
Qass_E^_i4_ 
Book_A^S^tJ3- 



)13 



COLLECTIONS 



istorical Society, 



of South Carolina. 



PART OF VOL. IV. 



Vr\t.o t-r C.a\A.S** 




0+ 5W. CC < 



I 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE 7 l /f l« 



APPOINTED BY THE 



GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF SOUTH CAROLINA 

IILT 1740, 



ON THE 



ST. AUGUSTINE EXPEDITION 



UNDER 



GENERAL OGLETHORPE. 




PUBLISHED BY 

THE SOUTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



I 



CHARLESTON, S. C. 
Walker, Evans & Cogswell Co., Printers, 

Noa. 3 and 5 Broad and 117 Kast Bay Streets. 

1887. 



1 , 1 • 

15Ap'03 



PREFACE 



The Expedition against St. Augustine, under General Oglethorpe, a 
suhject of controversy almost a century and a half ago, has again been 
discussed in certain publications of recent date. The authors of these 
are biographers and apologists of General Oglethorpe, and they seem 
to have been of opinion that his defence required the repetition of 
certain charges, made by his admirers long ago, while the mortification 
of failure was fresh, against the Carolinians who took part in that expe- 
dition. A reader of these late publications cannot fail to observe that 
the writers simply copy from each other the same allegations, in the 
same words, referring always to the same authorities, without, as it 
would appear, further investigation or research. To one author this 
remark, we are glad to say, does not apply, viz : Bishop W. B. Stevens. 
But he wrote as a historian, not a mere panegyrist, and no doubt felt 
it incumbent on him not to accept, without question, ready-made state- 
ments, but. to make diligent search for information. Even he does not 
refer to the following Report — so that he must have reached his con- 
clusions from other sources probably as accessible to other writers as 
to himself. The only imputation he makes upon the Carolina troops is 
this: "The Carolina troops were refractory." Perhaps acquaintance 
with the Report would have disabused him of this impression. The 
following is an extract from his History of Georgia : "The plans of 
Oglethorpe were eminently military and judicious; his valour was 
unimpeached, his zeal untiring, and his energy unexhausted. It was 
not, therefore, the fault of his skill or of his courage that the expedi- 
tion failed. The causes of this disaster were such as no commanding 
General could control, and for the results of which no one could be 
made responsible. 

" It has been asserted by some historians that the raising of the 
siege was owing to the defection of Col. Vanderdussen and the Caro- 
lina Regiment. On the contrary, he remained with Oglethorpe until 
the last, and Gen. Oglethorpe acknowledged his anxiety to fight for his 
country, by saying that Col. Vanderdussen had made several hand- 
some offers of service, which necessity had compelled him to decline. 
Some of the Carolina troops did indeed desert, but no more in pro- 
portion to their numbers than fell off from other corps. Col. Vander- 
dussen remained in Florida until Oglethorpe left it, and did not, with 
his Regiment, reach Charleston until 13th August,* having lost only 

*Note by Editor.— Gen. Oglethorpe began his final retreat on 4th July. 

"On 4th July everything he had on the island was re-embarked, the troops 
transported to the Continent, and the whole army began their march for Geor- 
gia."— Harris's Memorials of Oglethorpe. 



fourteen men by sickness and desertion. It is true that the people of 
Carolina cast many unjust reflections upon Oglethorpe, and endeavored 
to elevate the military character of Col. Vanderdussen by building it 
up on the ruins of his commander-in-chief. The controversies were 
hitter, but worthless. Let us not exhume such a theme, long buried 
in the ivy-covered tomb of the past, but rather conceding to Col. Van- 
derdussen the full share of honor which the Assembly of Carolina 
voted to him, award to Oglethorpe also the renown he so richly merits 
for his skill, valor, and untiring devotion to the protection and preser- 
vation of his beloved Georgia." — Stevens's History of Georgia, pp. 178, 
179— Edition, 1*47. 

Had other writers followed this advice, not to "put breath in these 
dry hones," publication of the following Report may not have been 
thought necessary. But in two volumes of recent date, Jones's " Dead 
Towns of Georgia," L878, and Wright's " Memoirs of Gen. Oglethorpe," 
L867, all the old aspersions on the Carolinians have been raked from 
the ashes of the past. It is therefore a debt of patriotism, and justice 
to our fellow-countrymen, that their memory be vindicated. 

The document now published is of authority fully equal to any 
from any other quarter. Indeed, remembering the character of its 
authors, and the grave responsibilities under which it was prepared, it 
is not too much to say that, wherever there is conflict, its authority 
should be paramount. It has been sleeping among the State archives : 
its existence forgotten, and its contents unknown, save possibly to some 
few who, through accident or curiosity, may have noticed it. In every 
important particular it refutes the imputations on the Carolinians. The 
names of the committee who made the report afford ample guarantee 
for its truth and credibility. Any attempt to abridge or condense 
would detract from the weight it should carry ; for the minuteness of 
detail furnishes internal evidence of the care and thorough inquiry 
exercised in its preparation. 

The charges, in general terms, against the Carolina troops, are tardi- 
ness in arriving ; turbulence and refractoriness, desertion, and too early 
abandonment of the enterprise. To all these conclusive answers will 
be found in the Report. 

Tardiness in Arriving. — Oglethorpe arrived at the place of rendezvous 
on 9th May. On that day he had with him 220 men of his own force 
and 123 men of the Carolina Regiment, being a detachment sent under 
Lieut. Maxwell and Ensign Blamyer. This appears also from Ogle- 
thorpe's journal, sent to Lieut.-Gov. Bull, on 24th May, quoted by a 
writer in Russell's Magazine, September, 1859, as follows : "On the 9th 
Gen. Oglethorpe passed into Florida, camped on the Spanish side of 
the River St. John. * * * Two sloops arrived with his stores and some 
of his Regiment from Frederica.andfour schooners, with stores, from 
Charles Town, and Capt. Lieut Maxwell and Ensign Blamyer, with a 
detachment of the Carolina Regiment. On the 10th, in the morning, 
he marched for Fort St. Diego," &c. The above writer continues : " He 



sent forward a part of the regulars and Indians, and a part of the Caro- 
lina troops, under Maxwell, to the attack. This was the first engage- 
ment of the expedition. When the garrison capitulated to Oglethorpe, 
who soon came up with the remainder of the forces, Lieut. Saussure 
(DeSaussure?), of the Carolina Regiment, with Lieut. Dunbar, of the 
General's Regiment, marched in and took possession. Where, at this 
time, were the rest of Oglethorpe's Regiment, his regulars and Georgia 
troops ? Not yet arrived. When did they arrive ? On the 13th, together 
with more of the Carolina Regiment. If this account be true, and who 
can doubt it? then the first engagement of the expedition (before all of 
Oglethorpe's troops reached the rendezvous) was participated in by a 
large proportion of our Regiment." 

Turbulence, Inefficiency, Desertion. — These charges are wholly falsified 
by the evidence, contained in the narrative, of labour, and effort, 
and promptness at every alarm. It is true that the Volunteers, but 
they only, went off— but they did so long after the plan of taking 
the town by a sudden and vigorous assault had been abandoned, 
and when sundry proposals from Col. Vanderdussen having been 
declined, there was no prospect of further attempts. But they gave 
formal notice to Col. Vanderdussen of their intention to return, 
with the reasons therefor. They were Volunteers who had joined the 
expedition under the belief that their patriotic ardour would find imme- 
diate opportunity for action in the sudden, vigorous and offensive effort 
of which Gen. Oglethorpe had given assurance. The promise of such 
effort being the inducement to volunteer, failure, from whatever cause, 
to act upon the promise, was failure of the very condition on which 
these Volunteers were there, and left them free to obey what they 
thought higher claims upon them at home. Further, they had not 
arranged for the long delays, the expenses and other sacrifices required 
by a protracted siege. From the Carolina Regiment there were only 
two desertions — one by a man of New England, who succeeded in 
getting away ; the other by an Irishman, who was taken and shot. 
The charge against Capt. Bull is refuted by the fact that he was made 
bearer of dispatches from Gen. Oglethorpe to the Lieutenant-Governor 
of South Carolina. Surely, this honorable office would not have been 
bestowed on a deserter. 

Too Early Abandonment of the Enterprise. — This has been answered 
as above by Bishop Stevens. The Report too shows that Col. Vander- 
dussen and his Regiment remained to the last, protecting parties of 
Georgians uselessly sent out by the General. That no men were lost 
in action, was because General Oglethorpe always refused Col. Van- 
derdussen's proposals to go into action — proposals which the General 
himself described as "handsome." The artillery was brought off by 
our Regiment from Anastatia, which the General had declared impos- 
sible. Stores which the General's men had left were brought off from 
Point Quartell — the South Carolina Regiment coming off only under 
positive orders from the General, who wrote also on 13th July to Col. 



6 

Vanderdnssen : " I am trl jitl of your arrival at St. John's, and approve 
of your expeditions landing on Point Qnartell." Yet the credit of 
bringing oflf the artillery is given by some to Gen. Oglethorpe's men. 

It may be well to give a brief history of the Report. The failure of 
the expedition had caused general disappointment and mortification, 
and much of the blame was laid by friends of Gen. Oglethorpe on the 
Carolinians. The authorities of South Carolina felt that an investiga- 
tion should be made, and in July, 1740, a committee was appointed for 
the purpose. It consisted of the Attorney-General, Col. Brewton, Maj. 
Pinckney, Messrs. Dart, Mazyck, Drayton, Motte, Elliott, Captains 
Ilyrne, Morris, Austin, lions. John Fenwieke, John Colleton, Edmond 
Atkin. These were among the most respectable and intelligent men 
oT the Province. They devoted near twelve months to the subject, and 
made their report in July, 1741. Thus it rests on the best evidence, 
that obtained by trustworthy men, from witnesses and actors of the 
time and in the affair itself. Such of the Vouchers in writing as are 
still extant are given in an Appendix. 

The main object of the publication of the Report is to vindicate the 
Carolina troops. While it fully does this, it also suggests the following 
as probable causes of failure of the expedition : 

1. Gen. Oglethorpe landed in Florida because some Spaniards had 
killed two persons on Amelia Island, and these Spaniards were pursued 
to within a few miles of St. Augustine— thereby the inhabitants were 
alarmed and put on the alert at the very time he was contemplating 
an invasion. 

2. He attacked and took two little Spanish forts on the St. John's, 
viz: St. Francis de Papa, and Picolata. Thus further alarm was given, 
for, as appears by letters taken by Capt. Warren from a vessel bound from 
St. Augustine to Cuba, the Governor of St. Augustine pressed for a sup- 
ply of provisions, ammunition, &c. Hence the arrival of provisions 
and six half gallies, which figure in the narrative. All this while pre- 
paring for and urging a sudden and vigorous assault. 

3. Before the arrival of the Commodore, before the arrival of Col. 
Vanderdnssen, without any concert, Gen. Oglethorpe passes over the 
St. John's to take a little palisado fort, within twenty miles of St. Au- 
gustine, where be spends about three weeks, sending out parties to 
reconnoitre. At length he marches with the force he had to within 
two miles of St. Augustine, and when it was expected he would push 
into the town, and force the inhabitants into the Castle, where they 
would be crowded, he said his purpose was only to reconnoitre. Ami 
when Col. Palmer offered to lead a party and burn the town, he is told 
it is ton hazardous that he (Gen. Oglethorpe^ was only complying with 
the custom of armies, to make a feint; like Marshal Daun, a cotempo- 
rary of Oglethorpe, whose tactics were "to march and countermarch 
all summer, without gaining or losing a square league, and then go into 
winter quarters.' Did the General (ask the Committee) not think 
before how hazardous his undertaking was? Then he marches hack. 



drams beating and colors flying ; to his own satisfaction, but to the 
mortification of men eager for the attack. 

4. By examination of the Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
Regiment, it appeared that the General never afterwards called a council 
of war. Even the important step of going to Anastatia was not com- 
municated beforehand. 

5. Discontinuance of the blockade on the land side, whilst the men- 
of-war prevented supplies of provision by sea. 

6. Disposition of troops ; not effecting a thorough siege or blockade, 
nor allowing support, which caused the affair at Moosa. 

7. The conduct of the Commodore in giving notice that the ships 
must withdraw on a certain day ; and his lukewarmness, and refusal to 
give efficient aid in attacking the gallies, or to leave two hundred men 
to man the battery until the return of the ships. 



The South Carolina Historical Society has long desired to publish the 
Eeport, and is now enabled to do so through assistance from the State 
Legislature. 

The Preface and notes were prepared at the desire of the Society, by 
J. J. Pringle Smith, a member, and submitted to the President, Prof. 
F. A. Porcher. 



IN THE UPPER HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, 

Thursday, 2nd July, 1741. 

Message from the Commons, with the Report of the 
Committees on the Expedition to St. Augustine. 

Present — The Honourable John Fenwicke. Edmond At- 
kin, William Middleton, Esqrs., William Pinckney and 
Robert Austin, Esqrs., from the Commons House, brought 
the following Message and Report : 

We herewith send your Honours the Report of the Com- 
mittee of Both Houses appointed to enquire into the Causes 
of the Disappointments of success in the Late Expedition 
against St. Augustine, to which this House have agreed, 
with some small amendments. We desire that your Hon- 
ours will be pleased to concur with us therein. 
By order of the House. 

WILLIAM BULL, Junr., Speaker. 

The 2d of June, 1741. 

Report of the Committee appointed to enquire into the Causes 
of the Disappointment of Success in the Late Expedition against 
St. Augustine. 

Your Committee have hitherto been prevented from 
making a Report to the House of the Result of their In- 
quiry into so unfortunate an Event to this Province by the 
Great Difficulties which they have met with in Collecting 
proper information and Vouchers from persons living in 
Different and Remote parts of the Province. Ungratefull 
also your Committee found it to lay open a scene which 
hath allready produced so much Concern. Those Difficul- 
ties being at Length got over, and your Committee having 
maturely weighed every thing that occurred in the Course 
of their Inquiry are of Opinion that they cannot Letter 
acquit themselves of their charge, nor more fully answer 
the Expectations of the House than by making a just and 



10 

faithful narrative (so far as things have reached their knowl- 
edge) of the measures with which the Enterprise formed 
againsl the Town and Castle of St. Augustine was Con- 
ducted in the field, from the time Genera] Oglethorpe first 
Landed in Florida. This they propose to do, and therein 
nothing shall be contained but incontestable Facts collected 
from the Attested Extracts of Journals Kept by the Secre- 
tary of the Colonel and by the Lieut. Colonel of the Caro- 
lina Regiment, from Examination on Oath, and from 
Original Letters before your Committee. They afterwards 
pursuant to the Obligations they are under, point out to the 
House the Principal and most apparent causes of the 111 
success which attended the Expedition, and make such 
other Remarks and observations upon the whole as shall 
appear to your Committee to be necessary. But before your 
Committee proceed to do this, they apprehend 'tis necessary 
to look back and Recollect upon what motives and by what 
means the Legislature of this Province, which had so lately 
laboured under so many Difficulties, was induced to engage 
so far in an undertaking of this nature. That by thus 
bringing every thing Relating to this affair into one view, 
your Committee may be the better enabled to make the 
Remarks proposed, and at the same time the prudence of 
this Government may appear sufficiently Justified in hav- 
ing Engaged in that undertaking at a time when the Prov- 
ince could so 111 afford to do it. 

St. Augustine, in possession of the Crown of Spain, is well 
known to be situate at but a Little distance from hence in 
the Latitude of 30° 00' N., in Florida, the next Territory to 
us. It is maintained by his Catholic Majesty, partly in 
order to preserve his Claim to Florida, and partly that it 
may be of service to the State Fleets when coming through 
the Gulf by showing lights to them along the Coast, and by 
being ready to give assistance when any of them are Cast 
away thereabout. The Castle, by the Largest account, doth 
not cover more than one acre of Ground, but is allowed on 
all hands to be a place of Great strength, being a square 
Fort, built with soft stone, with lour Bastions ; the Curtain 



II 

about sixty yards in length, the Parapet nine feet thick, the 
Rampart twenty feet high, casemated underneath for Lodg- 
ings, arched over, and of late said to be made Bomb-proof: 
having about fifty pieces of Cannon mounted, some of which 
are 24 pounders, and hath been usually garrisoned with 
about 300 or 100 men of the King's Regular Troops. 
The Town is not very large, and but Indifferently forti- 
fied ; the Inhabitants, many of which arc Mulattoes of 
savage Disposition, are all in the King's pay, also being 
Registered from their Birth, and a severe penalty laid 
on a Master of a Vessel that shall attempt to carry any 
one of them off. These are formed into a Militia, and have 
been generally Computed to be near about the same num- 
ber as the Regular Troops. Thus Relying wholly on the 
King's pay for their subsistence, their thoughts never turn 
to Trade or even agriculture ; but depending on foreign 
supplies for the most common necessaries of Life, they 
spend their time in universal, perpetual Idleness. From 
such a state mischievous Inclinations naturally spring up 
in such a People, and having Leisure and opportunity ever 
since they had a Neighbour, the fruits of whose Industry 
excited their Desires and Envy, they have not failed to 
Carry those Inclinations into action as often as they Could 
without the least regard to Peace or War subsisting between 
the Crown of Great Britain and Spain, or to stipulations 
agreed on between the two Governments. And though 
in some Cases wherein the persons concerned were few and 
the Circumstances such that they could not be easily de- 
tected, that Government hath pretended Ignorance and 
seemed to disallow thereof; yet it is certain that at the 
same time it hath concealed those persons and Connived at 
their actions. In April, 1070, Peace then subsisting be- 
tween the Crowns, the ship which the Lords proprietors of 
this Province sent over with the first Settlers arrived in 
Ashley River, and, having landed them, went to Virginia 
to fetch a supply of Provisions, &c, for them. The Span- 
iards at St. Augustine hearing thereof in the meantime, 
sent a party in a vessel from thence Immediately to attack 



12 

them. Accordingly they Landed at Stono Inlet on their 
Backs. But those settlers having by that time enforced 
themselves, and the ship Returning timely to their Relief, 
they made the best of their way home again. In 1686 Peace 
still subsisting, the Lord Carclross who had obtained from 
the Lords Proprietors a Grant of a large Tract of Laud in 
Granville County having just before come over and settled 
at Beaufort on Port Royal with a numberof North Britons, 
the Spaniards coming in three Gallies from St. Augustine, 
landed upon them, killed, and whipped*a great many after 
being taken in a most cruel and barbarous manner, plun- 
dered them all and broke up that settlement. The Gallies 
going from thence run up next to Bear Bluff on North 
Edisto River, where those Spaniards again Landed, burnt 
the Houses, plundered the settlers and took Langrave Mor- 
ton's Brother Prisoner. Their further progress was happily 
prevented by a Hurricane, which drove two of the Gallies 
Up so high on the land that no one being able to get one of 
them off again, and the country being at that time suffi- 
ciently alarmed, they thought proper to make a Retreat ; 
but first set fire to that Galley on board which was Mr. Mor- 
ton, in chains, and he was most inhumanly burnt in her. 
In 17*>_, before Queen Anne's Declaration of War was 
known in these parts, the Spaniards formed another Design 
to fall upon our settlements by Land at the head of nine 
hundred Appalachee Indians from thence. The Creek 
Indians, in friendship with this Province, coming at a 
knowledge of it, and sensible of the Danger approaching, 
acquainted our Traders, then in the nation, with it when 
this army was actually on the march coming down that way. 
The Traders having thereupon encouraged the Creeks to 
get together an army of five hundred men, headed the same 
and went out to meet the other; both armies met in an 
evening on the side of Flint River, a branch of the Cataho- 
chee. In the morning just before Break of Day, when the 
Indians are accustomed to make their attack, the Creeks 
stirring up (heir fires, drew Back at a little distance, leaving 
their Blankets by the fires in the very same order as they 



had slept. Immediately after the Spaniards and Appa- 
lachees, as was expected, coming on to attack them fired 
and run in upon the Blankets; thereupon the Creeks, rush- 
ing forth, fell on them, Killed, and took the greatest part, 
and entirely routed them. To this stratagem was owing 
the Defeat of the Intended Design. It was the Latter end 
of the same year Queen Anne's war being commenced, Col. 
Moore, then Governor of this Province, with Reason Ex- 
pected a visit from the Spaniards ; and it having been sug- 
gested to him that St. Augustine might be easily taken, if 
surprised, he Judged it best to give the first Blow. Accord- 
ingly he undertook an Expedition against it with five hun- 
dred whites and a few Indians. He himself, with four 
hundred of them, proceeded in the Vessels Directly to the 
Bar of St. Augustine Harbour, whilst Coll. Daniel Landing 
at Juan's, marched Directly from thence with the other one 
hundred and the Indians, and entered the town with them 
only the same day as the Vessels appeared in sight. This 
little army Kept the Castle close Besieged above three 
months, and Repressed several sallies with the loss of very 
few men ; yet having no Bombs with them, and a Spanish 
man-of-war coming to its Relief from the Havanna with a 
Considerable number of men on board four Large Trans- 
ports, which landed on one station, they were obliged to 
Retreat, but not without first burning the Town. In 1704 
Col. Moore was Commissioned a Lieut. Genl. by Sr. Natlxa. 
Johnson who succeeded him in the Government, to make 
an Expedition against the Spaniards and Indians at Appa- 
lachee, about eighty miles to the west of Augustine, on the 
same motives that the preceeding Expedition had been 
undertaken. He marched up thither at the head of fifty 
Volunteers of this Province and one thousand Indians. The 
first fort he came to, which had fifty men in it, he took by 
storm after a smart Resistance. The next Day the Captain 
of St. Lewis's Fort, with twenty-three Spaniards and 400 
Indians, giving him Battle, Conl. Moore took him and 8 of 
his men Prisoners and Killed 200 of the Indians. In two 
days after the King of Attcoocha, who was in a strong 



14 

Fort with 130 men, scut to him presents of Provisions, &c, 
and made his peace, after which he marched through all 
the rest of the Towns, 5 of which had strong Forts and De- 
fences against small armies, but all submitted without con- 
ditions. He brought away 300 Indians, being- the whole 
of 3 Towns and the most of 4 more, having totally destroyed 
the whole of 2 Towns, so that he left but one Town, which 
compounded with him, part of St. Lewis's, and the people of 
another Town who Run away alltogether; but be burnt their 
Town Church and Fort. By this Conquest of Appalachee tbe 
Province was freed from any Danger from that part during 
tbe whole war, and this Important service was effected with- 
out putting this Government to the least expense. In 1700 
the Spaniards at St. Augustine joined tbe French from 
Martinico in making up a Fleet of ten sail, with 800 
men, whites, mustees and negroes, and 200 Indians, to 
Invade this Province. The ship on board which tbe 
Commander was being separated from the fleet fell into 
Sewee Bay, not knowing tbe place. The Rest coming over 
Charlestown Bar anchored just within on a Sunday, where 
they remained, sending parties ashore on James Island 
and Wando Neck, plundering and burning Houses, &c, 
'til Friday following. Capt. Fenwicke going from Cbarles- 
town with one hundred men landed at Habpan* in sight of 
the Town, upon a Party of 130 men, who bad got thither 
and set the ship on fire. He attacked them, Killed and 
wounded about 30, and took seventy Prisoners. The 
next Day the ship which bad lost Company still not 
appearing, the whole fleet set sail again. In 1715 Peace 
being sometime concluded between the Crowns, tbe 
Yemassee Indians, who before the settlement of this 
Province, had lived in amity with the Government at St. 
Augustine, but afterwards Removed and Settled on a Body 
of land opposite Port Royal Island living Contiguous to 
and in the most Intimate manner with tbe settlers in those 
parts, having been 111 used By some of tbe Traders amongst 

*Note. — Hobcaw no doubt is meant. 



15 

them, were so far Disgusted that they Broke out in war with 
this Province, by massacreing, on the 15th April, above 
eighty of the Inhabitants of Granville County. But it was 
manifest that they were prompted to this severe Resentment 
of their usage, whatever it was, by the Spaniards at St. 
Augustine. For though those Yemassecs had, During 
Queen Anne's war, been the greatest Instruments of Con- 
stantly Disturbing and harrassing them in so much that 
not a man dared for a long time to go out of the slight of 
the Castle, and Destroying even their Castle, yet on the very 
day this war Broke out the Yemassees shewed so much 
Confidence in the Spaniards that they sent away their 
women and children in their own boats by water to Augus- 
tine, and having Ravaged the Country, Killed many more 
and doing all the mischief they could, so that all the South- 
ern parts were broken up to about the Distance of 20 miles 
from Charlestown, they themselves soon after Retreated to 
St. Augustine also, where they were Received, Protected and 
Encouraged to make frequent Incursions from thence into 
the Settlements of this Province ; and being oftentimes 
headed by Spaniards, they cut off several of the settlers and 
Carried off their slaves. The slaves themselves at length, 
taking advantage from those things, deserted of their own 
accord to St. Augustine, and upon being Demanded back* 
by this Government, they were hot Returned, but such rates 
paid for those that could not be concealed as that Govern- 
ment was pleased to set upon them. This Evil increasing, 
although Conll. Barnwell,* who was sent from hence, Imme- 
diately after the Conclusion of Queen Anne's war, had, in 
behalf of this Government, then Entered into a Stipulation 
with that mutually to Return any slaves that should for 
the future Desert from Either Government, notwithstand- 
ing which the very year Following in 1726, f with whom that 

*Note. — This was Col. John Barnwell, father of Col. Nathaniel Barn- 
well, mentioned later in the Report as serving in the capacity of 
volunteer aid to Gen. Oglethorpe. 

fNoTE. — There is some confusion here, prohably from misplacement 
of words — but the sense is not affected. 



16 

Governmenl confirmed the P. Stipulation : notwithstanding 
which the very year following in 17-7, Peace between the 
Crowns continuing Fresh Depredations were committed on 
this Province from Augustine, both by land and water, 
which created the Expense of two Expeditions to prevent 
the progress of them. At that time this Coast being in- 
fested by several Spanish vessels, who styling themselves 
Gaurda Costas, on pretence of Searching, plundered and 
made Prizes of all the English vessels they met with, a 
schooner fitted out at Augustine on the Like account, put 
into North Edisto, where the men made a descent and car- 
ried off the slaves of David Ferguson, which were never 
returned or paid for. On this occasion Capt. Mountjoy was 
fitted • out by the Government, who cleared the Coasts of 
those Pirates, and Retook a Rich Virginia Ship, at the same 
time a party of Yemassee Indians, headed by Spaniards 
from St. Augustine, having murdered our out scouts, made 
an Incursion into our Settlements within 10 miles of Pon 
Pon, where they cut off one Mr. Micheaux, another white 
man on the same Plantation, and carried off a Third Pris- 
oner, with all the Slaves, Horses, &c, &c, but being briskly 
pursued by the Neighbours, who had notice of it, they were 
overtaken, routed, and obliged to quit their Booty. The 
•Government Judging it necessary to Chastize at least those 
Indians, Commissioned Conll. Palmer for that purpose 
instantly, who with about 100 whites and the Like number 
of Indians, landed at St. Juan's, and having left a sufficient 
number to take care of the craft, marched, undiscovered to 
the Yemassee's Town within a mile of St. Augustine. He 
attacked it at once, killed several of those Indians, took 
several Prisoners, and drove the Rest into St. Augustine, 
where they were sheltered, and having Destroyed their town, 
he Returned in the beginning of 1728. A Party of these 
Yrmassees having Landed at Doffuskie, surprised one of our 
scout boats, Killed every man but Capt. Gilbert, who Com- 
manded her. < hie of the Indians seizing him as his prop- 
erty, saved his life. In their Return back to St. Augustine 
a Debate arose that it was necessary to Kill him, for the 



17 

Governour would not have them to bring any one alive. 
But Capt. Gilbert pleading with the Indian that claimed 
him was protected by him, and upon coming to St. Augus- 
tine was, after some time, released by the Governour. In 
the Latter End of 1737, still peace subsisting, great prepa- 
rations were made to invade openly this Province and 
Georgia. For that purpose a great Body of men arrived in 
St. Augustine, in Gallies, from the Havanna, which put this 
Province to a very Large Expense to provide against, but 
happily they were Countermanded just as they were ready 
to set off. In 1738, although Peace subsisted, and Gover- 
nour Johnston, after his arrival here, renewed the before 
mentioned Stipulation, another method was taken up by 
the Spaniards to answer their Ends. Hitherto the Govern- 
ment of St. Augustine had not dared to acknowledge, much 
less to Justify, the Little Villanies and violences offered to 
our Properties, but now an Edict of his Catholic Majesty 
himself was Published by beat of Drum Round the town 
of St. Augustine, where many Negroes, belonging to Eng- 
lish Vessels, which carried thither Supplies of Provisions, 
&c, had the opportunity of hearing it, promising Liberty 
and protection to all slaves that should desert thither from 
any of the English Colonies, but more especially from this, 
and Least that should not prove sufficient of itself, Secret 
measures were taken to make it Known to our Slaves in 
General, in Consequence of which numbers of Slaves did, 
from time to time, by Land and water, Desert to St. Augus- 
tine, and the better to facilitate their escape, carried off their 
masters' Horses, Boats, &c — Some of them first Committing 
murder, and were accordingly received and declared 
free. Our Present Lieut. Govern'r, by Deputies sent from 
hence on that occasion to Signior Don Manuel de Montiano, 
the Present Govern'r of St. Augustine, Set forth the manner 
which those slaves had Escaped, and Redemanded them 
pursuant to the stipulation between the two Governments, 
and to the peace subsisting between the Crowns. Notwith- 
standing which, though that Government acknowledged 
those Slaves to be there, yet producing the King of Spain's 

2 



18 

said Edict, he Declared that he could not Deliver them up 
without a positive order for that Purpose from the King, and 
that he should continue to Receive all others that should 
Resort thither, it having been an article of Complaint 
against his Predecessour that he had not put the said Edict 
in force Sooner. The Success of those Deputies being too 
well known at their Return, Conspiracies were formed and 
attempts made by more Slaves to Desert to Augustine, but 
as every one was by this time alarmed with apprehensions 
of that nature, by great vigilance they were prevented from 
succeeding. 

In Sept'r, 173^), our Slaves made an Insurrection at Stono, 
in the Heart of our settlements not 20 miles from Charles- 
town, in which they massacred 23 whites after the most 
Cruel and Barbarous manner to be conceived, and having 
got arms and ammunition out of the store, they bent their 
Course to the Southward, burning all the Houses on the 
Road, but they, marched so slow in full confidence of their 
own Strength, from their first success, that they gave time 
to a party of our Militia to Come up with them. The num- 
ber was in a manner Equal on both sides, and an Engage- 
ment, wherein one fought for Liberty and Life, the other 
for their Country and everything that was dear to them, 
ensued such as may be supposed in such a case, but by the 
Blessing of God the Negroes were Defeated, the greatest 
part being Killed on the spot or taken, and those that then 
escaped were so closely pursued and hunted, day after day, 
that in the End all but 2 or 3 men were Killed or Taken 
and Executed. That the Negroes would not have made this 
Insurrection had they not Depended on St. Augustine for a 
place of Reception afterwards was very certain, and that 
the Spaniards had a hand in prompting them to this par- 
ticular Action, there was but little Room to Doubt. For in 
July preceding, Don Pedro, Capt. of the Horse at St. Au- 
gustine, came to Charlestown in a Launch with 20 or 30 
men (one of which was a Negro that spoke English very 
well), under a Pretence of Delivering a letter to General 
Oglethorpe, altho' he could not possibly be Ignorant that 



19 

the General resided at Frederica, not half the Distance from 
St. Augustine ; and in Return he was seen at Times to put 
into every one of our Inlets on the Coast. And in the very 
month in which the above Insurrection was made, the Gen- 
eral acquainted our Lieut. Gov'r by the Letter that the 
Magistrates at Savannah in Georgia had seized a Spaniard, 
whom he took to be a priest, and that they thought, from 
what they had Discovered, that he was Employed by the 
Spaniards to procure a general Insurrection of the Negroes. 
On this occasion Every Breast was filled with concern. Evil 
Brought home to us within our very Doors awakened the 
attention of the most unthinking. Every one that had any 
relation, any Tie of nature, every one that had a life to 
lose, were in the most Possible manner Shocked at such 
Danger daily hanging over their Pleads. With Regret we 
bewailed our peculiar case that we could not Enjoy the 
Benefits of peace like the Rest of mankind, and that our 
Industry Should be the means of taking from us all the 
Sweets of life and of Rendering us Liable to the Loss of our 
Lives and Fortunes. With Indignation we looked at St. Au- 
gustine like another Sallee, (Alsatia?) that Den of thieves and 
Ruffians, Receptacle of Debtors, Servants, and Slaves, Bane of 
Industry and Society, and Revolved in our minds all the 
Injuries this Province had Received from thence ever since 
the first Settlement ; that they had from first to Last in 
times of Profoundest Peace, both Publickly and privately, 
by themselves, Indians and Negroes, in every shape, mo- 
lested us, not without some Instances of uncommon Cruelty 
and what aggravated the same was that this Government, on 
the Contrary, had never been wanting in its good offices 
with our Indians in their behalf, and even during Queen 
Anne's war, had exercised so much Humanity towards 
them, that in order to prevent those Indians from scalping 
them, according to their custom when they should take any 
of them Prisoners, a Law was passed to give them £5 Proc- 
lamation money for every one that they should bring in 
alive, and Accordingly a great number of the Spaniards by 



20 

that means were brought in alive, and the said Reward 
Paid for them. 

St. Augustine having thus at last obtained the Royal 
Sanction for its mischievous Designs, the matter was fully 
Represented to his Majesty, from whom we waited with 
Patience for Redress. At this Melancholy Juncture his 
Majesty's Proclamation came over with orders to the Lieut. 
Governour to Grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal against 
the subjects of the Crown of Spain, and war between the 
two Crowns seemed Inevitable. The Hopes of being in 
Such Case at Liberty to Revenge our Liberty made that- 
Desirable to all which, at any other time, would have been 
Deemed a misfortune to this Frontier Province, as we know 
our own strength w r as Insufficient of itself for such an un- 
dertaking, and we Doubted not of his Majesty's assistance, 
but in the meantime the Encouragements which the Span- 
iards would have during this posture of affairs to carry on 
the scheme begun with our Slaves, presented itself strongly 
to every imagination. At the same time the Lieut. Gover- 
nour, being informed by a Gentleman just from the Havan- 
nah that the preparations made there in 1737 to Invade us 
still lay Ready, and that the Spaniards had often Declared 
they should make use of them for that purpose the moment 
they heard it was war, with Reason now Expecting an 
attack, wrote to the Captains of the men-of-war on the 
Northern Stations to come to our assistance according to 
Instructions given in Such Case from home. This was our 
Case, these were our Sentiments, when on ye 8th Nov'r, 
1739, our Lieut. Governour Communicated to the House a 
letter which he had received from General Oglethorpe, dated 
27th Sept'r preceeding, wherein the General acquainted his 
Honr.* that he had then received orders from his Majesty, 
dated 15th June, to annoy the Subjects of Spain in the best 
Manner he was able, That he had sent up an officer into 
the Cherokee Nation to march down into the Spanish Ter- 
ritories, that he had also sent Commissions into the Creek 



* Vide A pp. No. 1. 



21 

Nation, from whence lie had advice that Tonahowi with 
200 men had gone against the Floridas, and that he had 
sent an Express after them to attack the Spaniards, and 
believed they would strike the first blow, and that he hoped 
the People of Carolina would give the assistance necessary 
that he might begin with the siege of St. Augustine before 
more Troops arrived there from Cuba. This Letter was 
followed by two others, one of the 6th Oct'r,* wherein the 
General told his Hon. that, by fresh advices from England > 
all was in action, that he hoped the Assembly would come 
into taking this favourable opportunity of getting Rid of 
their neighbours at Augustine, and that they should have 
his utmost assistance ; and another of the 20th October,f 
wherein he assured him that he should do the utmost in his 
power for taking St. Augustine before succours came from 
Spain, that If we did not attack we should be attacked. It 
was natural in our Circumstances to listen favourably to any 
proposal that had but the appearance of a Tendency to 
make them better. The House being thus Ready and pre- 
disposed, appointed a very large Committee to take this 
matter into Consideration in Conjunction with a Committee 
of the upper House, as there never was anything in which 
the Province was so nearly Concerned. The Committee 
proceeded therein with the greatest Deliberation. On the 
one hand the Inestimable advantages that would accrue to 
the Province by the Reduction of St. Augustine were self- 
evident, on the other hand it was too apparent how greatly 
our Strength was Reduced by the Dreadful mortality occa- 
sioned by the Small Pox in 1738, the year before, and also 
by the yellow fever in the year then Present, the People at 
the same time already paying cheerfully heavy Taxes, and 
a miscarriage in the undertaking presented to view the most 
Fatal consequences. For this Reason Some very Rational 
Prospect of Success appeared necessary. The Committee 
therefore at once Expressing their Sense of the Proposal, 
and at the time a becoming Tenderness to their Country, in 

* App. No. 2. i A pp. No. 3. 



'22 

their Report* to the House of 12th Decem'r. Recommended 
that in case General Oglethorpe Should think proper to 
form a Design of besieging St. Augustine, and should Com- 
municate his Scheme to the General Assembly, and should 
make it appear that the same was Probable of being At- 
tended with Success of taking or Demolishing that Garrison, 
that then the Publick of this Province would engage to give 
General Oglethorpe the Best assistance they Reasonably 
Could to put his Scheme in Execution. To this the House 
agreed, and the upper House having Concurred thereto, the 
Same was Communicated the next day by the Lieut. Gover- 
nour by Letterf to the General. On the 30th Jan'ry the Lieut. 
Governour sent down to the Commons House the answer 
which he had Received from the General to the foregoing 
offer, Dated 29th Decem'r. Therein the General Enume- 
rated everything that he thought Reasonable and Necessary 
for this Province to assist him towards the Siege of St. 
Augustine, Viz : 12 Cannons of 18 pound Shot, 200 Shots 
for each Gun and Powder proportionable, one Mortar Piece 
and Bombs with Powder Sufficient, 800 Pioneers (Negroes 
or White Men), with Tools Sufficient for that number of 
men, Such as Spades, Hoes, Axes and Hatchets to Dig 
Trenches, make Gabelines and Fascines, If negroes then 
white men Sufficient to Guard them and oversee them, 
Vessels and Boats Sufficient to Carry the Artillery men, 
Provisions, &c, 6,000 Bushels of Corn or Rice, proportion- 
able thereto for 1,000 Indians, as many Horsemen as could 
be had for 4 months, Provisions for 400 men of his own 
Regiment, at the Rate of 1 lb. Meat and 1 lb. Rice per Diem 
each man, with Boats for Carrying to St. Augustine, Pay 
and the like allowance of Provisions for 200 Georgians, 
Equal to the number of soldiers that he should leave 
behind him. On this the number of foot men he expected 
from us was omitted, but it was, as will be seen, GOO men. 
He mentioned also that he could march 400 men of his 
Regiment and leave Sufficient for the Garrison behind him, 

*Anp. No. ». f App. N<>. •">. 



23 

that he had ordered 8 Troops of 20 men each to be Raised, 
tho' he had got but 12 Horses for them, that he should have 
1 ,000 Indians, that the Cherokees had Promised to be down 
in March, that he expected the Creeks the same time, and 
that he had a Party of them with him for Some Months, 
and that he had 36 Cohorns and 1,800 Shells. This he said 
was his opinion with Relation to the Preparations for Dis- 
lodging the Spaniards at Augustine, without which it could 
not certainly be done, then he took notice of Some Induce- 
ments for us to Engage in the Undertaking immediately, 
Viz : That If we did not take the Happy Opportunity to attack 
St. Augustine whilst it was weak, the Havannah being 
blocked up by our men-of-war, which Rendered it Incapa- 
ble of Receiving Succours from Cuba, all North America, 
as well as Carolina and Georgia, would feel it severely, for 
that as soon as the sea was free they would send a large 
Body of Troops from Cuba, that the preparations made at 
the Havannah Some time past (meaning for the Invading 
this Province) were still there, and If they should come on 
Land in Florida we must then make a Defensive war; they 
might choose whom to attack separately, and might molest 
all North America with their Privateers ; that he was willing 
himself to do all that he possibly could for annoying the 
Enemy, as his Majesty had ordered, and Should spare no 
Personal Labour nor Danger towards freeing Carolina of a 
place from whence their Negroes were Encouraged to Mas- 
sacre their Masters, and were openly Harboured after such 
attempts. Lastly, he added that the Spaniards had attacked 
the Island of Amelia and Murdered 2 men there, on which 
occasion he had Landed in Florida ; that the Indians hav- 
ing pursued them, had Killed one of the Negroes that had 
runaway from Carolina, within a few miles of Augustine. 
On the 4th February the Lieut. Governour sent to the House 
2 other letters, which he had Received from the General. 
In one of these, dated 23d January,* he Informs his Hon'r 
that a Detachment of his Majesty's Troops and a party of 

*App. No. 7. 



24 

Indians had, on the 8th of that month, attacked and took 
the Fort of Picolata, on the South side of St. Juan's River, 
and Fort St. Francis, on the North side, which Forts com- 
manded the Ferry over that River and the Passage from 
Augustine to the Indian Nations and the Gulf of Mexico. 
In the other letter* he says that, by the Examination of 
Several Prisoners which he had taken in Fort Francis, he 
found Augustine had been greatly strengthened, a Covered 
way having been made Round the Fort, which they thought 
would be Soon finished ; that the Longer we delayed attack- 
ing them the Stronger they would be ; that he had held a 
council of war, by whose advice he had made out the prepa- 
rations necessary according to the present Circumstances, 
and that Capt. Heron, the Bearer, would Lay before the 
General Assembly the assistance necessaryf for bringing 
the Undertaking to an happy Issue. The Estimate of that 
assistance accompanied the same, consisting of one Regi- 
ment of Foot of 600 men, 3 Troops of Rangers 105 men, 800 
Negroes for Pioneers, 160 white men to guard and coerce 
them, 50 men for Officers, &c, among the Indians ; 6 
months Provisions for all those and for 400 men of his 
own Regiment and 3 months Provisions for 2,000 Indians, 
as also one Gun, Hatchet, and Blanket, for each of them, 
besides those other necessarys mentioned in his former 
Letter, dated ye 29th December, together with an (k) acct 
of the Forces upon the Establishments at St. Augustine, 
which the General had from the Spanish Prisoners taken at 
St. Francis, consisting of 924 men, besides ye Town Militia, 
Indians, Negroes, and Transports. The House had Some 
other Inducements to assist the General to the utmost of its 
Power, not mentioned by him. He had already proceeded 
to such a Length with the Indians to Joyn in this Under- 
taking, not only after but before he had begun to consult 
measures with this Government, that he could not possibly 
go back without bringing the English into great contempt 
amongst them, and Rendering it impossible ever after to 

* App, N<> 8 1 A pp. No. 9. 



prevail with them to join in any other. Perhaps also (as 
we know the Indians will, in time of war, join one side or 
the other, and some of them, particularly the Creeks, were 
already wavering,) the Disappointment might Incline many 
of them to Join the Spaniards, all of which would be of the 
most fatal consequence to us ; on the Contrary, if they struck 
the first blow with us they could be relied on During the 
whole war, and if we should be so fortunate as to Reduce 
the Castle of Augustine of the strength of which they had 
conceived so great Ideas, our Reputation would be Estab- 
lished with them forever. Considered, also, that by the 
Reduction of that Castle, a Sum of £10,000 annual Expense 
occasioned thereby in maintaining Garrisons, Lookouts, 
Scout Boats, Rangers and Indian Presents, &c, would be 
saved to the Publick in its Taxes. For tho' after the Settle- 
ment of Georgia, the Lookouts, Scout Boats, and Rangers, 
and one of the Garrisons, had been Reduced, yet the Pres- 
ents to the Indians had been Enlarged Equal thereto, and 
those Reducements were become more necessary than 
ever to be re-established. Upon those and all other Con- 
siderations, before mentioned, the House Discovered the 
greatest Cheerfulness to grant all the assistance in its Power 
to the General, Consistent with the safety of the Province, 
or to Plunge the Country into a Certain Debt for the bare 
attempting to remove its Evils, the success of which attempt 
nay even the Probability of it being as yet Doubtful. The 
Same Committee, as was before directed by the House to 
take under Consideration the foregoing Letters and Esti- 
mate of assistance Sent by the General, having conferred 
thereon with the Committee of the Upper House, on the 
5th February, Reported,* " That the same would Exceed the 
" Sum of £200:492:10, which the Committee was of Opinion 
" was an Expense too Great for this Province to bear ; But 
" Recommended that If the General would undertake the 
" Expedition against St. Augustine, and would certify to the 
" General Assembly that the same was Probable of being 

*App. No. 11. 



2G 

" attended with the success of taking that Garrison with an 
" assistance from this Government of an expense amount- 
" ing to the Sum of £120,000, that then the Publick of this 
" Province would he willing to be at that Expense and to 
" Provide for the same. To this both Houses agreed, and. 
" the Committee being further Directed to make a Calcula- 
" tion of what number of Forces, quantity of Ammunition, 
" Presents for Indians, Provisions, &c, might be transported 
" to Augustine for that sum, Reported 9th February,* That 
'' the same was sufficient for the payment of Foot to con- 
" sist of 8 Companies with 60 men each (besides Field Ofli- 
" ccrs), one Troop of Rangers 49 men, 300 white men or 
" 400 negroes for Pioneers, with Utensils, Presents for 1,000 
" Indians, 10,000 lbs. Powder, 20,000 Bullets, 20 Craft for 
" Transportation, Contingent Charges and Provisions for 
" ye whole, to be continued 6 months. "t This Resolu. 
tion was Communicated the next Day by the Lieut. Gover- 
nour by Letter to the General, together with Certain articles 
proposed by Both Houses to be stipulated with him for 
carrying on the Expedition in Case he should undertake it. 
To this the General by Letter to the Lieut. Governour, dated 
27th Feb'ry, only Replied that he had Received his Honr.'s 
Letter with papers Enclosed, and that If he could settle 
things so that the Frontiers might not suffer b} r his absence, 
he would come to Charlestown and consult with him and 
The General Assembly, if not he should write more fully : 
The General came to Charlestown the 23d March, and 
by letter to the Governour, Dated 26th, which was laid 
before the House, desired his Honour to acquaint the 
" Assembly that he w r as come to consult measures with 
" them for bringing that Enterprise to a happy Conclusion 
" with the Smallest Expense of men and money, for which 
" purpose it would be best Immediately, with what men 
" could be had to make a sudden attempt, [if this] could not 
" be Immediately made, that the only other measure would 
" be the giving him at present such part of the assistance 

* App. No. \2. f App. No. 13. 



27 

" proposed as might Keep the war on the other Side of St. 
" John's or Mathas River until the Fall, during which 
" time Preparations might be made for the Siege Expense 
" within the sum voted by the Assembly. To this he added, 
" That in case neither of those assistances could be given, 
" he should be obliged to Draw in the Troops from the 
" advanced Posts and bring the Regiments together for 
" making a vigorous Defense in one place, and If he was 
" put under the necessity, that he should lose the advantage 
" already gained by the taking St. Francis, which had cut off 
" the Communication of Augustine with the Appalachees 
" and 100 men of their Garrison then at St. Mark's, and 
" the Spaniards would again be masters of St. John's, of the 
" Path to the Creek Nation and to the French, and of mo- 
" lesting us from all parts That this Speedy Return was abso- 
" lutely necessary to meet the Indians, who he expected were 
" upon the way and Some perhaps arrived on the Southern 
" Frontiers. Therefore he Desired a Speedy answer, and if 
" it was necessary farther to Explain the methods to be 
" taken, he was Ready to do it by Conference with the Com- 
" mittee of the General Assembly, If they desired it." The 
House having hereupon Signified their Desire to have an 
Estimate Laid before them of what number of men, &c, 
would be necessary for making the Sudden attempt on 
Augustine, mentioned by the General in the said Letter as 
the first method to be taken, the Lieut. Governour procured 
the same from the General and sent it down to the House, 
on the 29th March, 1740.* Therein the General proposed 
" That one Regiment of Foot should be raised Consisting 
" of 400 men, to be Engaged for 3 months, a Troop of 
" Rangers or Cattle Hunters (if they could be got time 
" enough), Provisions for the same for that time, and also 
" 500 Indians, 4 months, with presents of a Gun, Hatchet, 
" Blanket and some Paints each, vessels for Transportation 
" of the Forces, &c, Including a Company of his own then 
" at Port Royal, 5,000 wt. Powder, 10,000 wt. Bullets, 20,000 

*App. No. 17. 



28 

" Flints, 200 Spades, Axes, Hoes, or Bills, Medicines and 
" Surgeons' Chests, 8 six pounders, 2 Small Brass Field 
" pieces at Port Royal, the mortar pieces here, and shells, 
'' the Cohorns, as many shells as could be, 200 Rounds for 
" the Cannon, Mortar pieces, and Cohorns, 20 pair Cart 
" Wheels, Cartridge Paper, &c, &c.,and a Sum for Contingen- 
" cies ; adding that if these preparations could not be had 
" within 14 days, so as to set out from Charlestown within 
" that time, the Enterprise would hardly succeed, that if he 
" took the Town and the Castle should Capitulate, half the 
" Expenses first proposed could be saved. But if the Castle 
" should make a Resistance beyond Expectation, then the 
" Battering Cannon, Pioneers, Provisions for them, Presents 
" and Provisions for 500 more Indians, Powder and Bullets, 
" Utensils for the Pioneers, in the whole not Exceeding 
" £120,000 voted should be ordered so as he might open 
" Trenches in October, and Force Augustine by a Siege. 
" This was accompanied by a Letter to the Lieut. Gover- 
" nour,* wherein the General said that as it was all that 
" could be done, tho' more had been offered, that he would 
" undertake the attempt with that assistance, and that Capt. 
" Pearce had assured him that If we were Ready in 14 Days 
" he would assist the undertaking with his Majesty's ships 
" to the utmost, and Desired an Immediate answer that he 
" might send to Sr. Yelverton Peyton to join him with his 
" 40 Gun Ship then at Virginia." On Considering this Plan 
it was the unanimous opinion of the House that the sup- 
plies therein mentioned could not possibly be provided 
by the Government in so short a time as was Required, 
and therefore as the House had then the Greatest Reason 
to think that that Enterprise would not be undertaken, it 
directed their Committee to Join the Committee of the 
Upper House and to Enquire of the General what supplies 
he thought would be necessary to Keep the war on the 
other side of St. John's River. Accordingly there was 
a Conference of the Committees of Both Houses the 

*App. No. 18. 



29 

same da} r , at which General Oglethorpe was Present, as 

was also Capt. Pearce, the Commodore of his Majesty's 

Ships then in these parts, and Capt. Warren and many 

other of the members of the two Houses. The General, 

being acquainted with the opinion and Direction of the 

House, still proposed making the sudden attempt upon 

St. Augustine, and offered to stay a longer time for the 

supplies. He Represented to the Committee " that he had 

' private Intelligence from St. Augustine that the Place was 

' in the utmost want of Provisions, that it was certain a 

' great part of the Garrison would Desert to him as soon as 

' he should appear there, and that he did not Doubt making 

' himself master of the Town the first night. That the mul- 

' titude of women and children who would be forced from 

' thence into the Castle must necessarily Distress that, which 

' being immediately followed by throwing in Several Bombs, 

' would undoubtedly produce a speedy surrender ; that in 

' Case the Havannah should be taken by our Fleet before 

' we attempted this, the Spandiards would afterwards, in 

' all Probability, rather call in the French to St. Augustine 

' than let it fall into our hands. At the same time the 

' Commodore promised to give all the assistance in his 

' power to the Enterprise, declaring that he would answer 

' for it the Place should have no Relief by sea, and they 

' ought all to be hanged if they did not take it in a very 

' short time." These were Fresh and strong Inducements ; 

here was a scheme that appeared rational and highly 

Probable of being attended with success. It Readily 

occurred to the Committee what Glorious Success had 

often Crowned attempts of such a nature merely from 

their Suddenness and a vigorous Execution of them. We 

had ourselves the Examples of Colonel Daniel and Colonel 

Palmer, who, tho' not bred soldiers, yet led on by their 

own Courage, happily Effected their sudden attempt 

which they made. In this we were to have a General 

who professed to have Learned the first Rudiments of war 

pretty early under Prince Eugene, a Regiment of the 

King's Troops, 5 men-of-war, then Certain, viz: The 



30 

Flamborough, Commodore Pearce ; The Squirrel, Capt. 
Warren ; The Phoenix, Capt. Franshaw ; The Tartar, 
Capt. Townshend (all 20 Gun Ships); the Spence Sloop, 
Capt. Lanes, and 3 more expected in time, viz: The Col- 
chester, Capt. Simonds, of 50 Guns; The Hector, Sr, Yel- 
verton Peyton, of 40 Guns; and the Wolf Sloop, Capt. 
Dandridge, and a large Body of Indians, besides our own 
forces. On the other side, the utmost want of Provisions 
at Augustine; such another opportunity was like never 
to present again. ^Induced by these Reasons, as well as 
by a General Reflection on our cases ; considering also 
that when we had done everything in our power for our- 
selves, If we miscarried we could have no Room to doubt 
of an effectual assistance from the Crown ; Fired also with 
some ambition of sharing in the Glory of his Majesty's 
arms; The Committee in their Report Recommended it 
to the House to assist Genl. Oglethorpe in making an im- 
mediate attack upon Augustine with such Forces and 
necessaries as he thought sufficient for the Enterprise, 
according to his own Plan last mentioned, and to continue 
the same for one month Longer than he had proposed, 
being prevented from Recommending 6 months in the 
whole by the Captains of his Majesty's ships Declaring 
that they could not stay longer on the Coast, as the Hur- 
ricane season would come in before the Expiration of that 
Term. To this Both Houses having agreed, and the 
General having entered into some stipulations with the 
Government, an Act was passed April the 5th,* 1740, for 
carrying the same into Execution. An Expedi ion against 
St. Augustine being then concluded upon although on 
ye footing of a sudden and vigorous Effort being made, 
the Levies of men were instantly carried on with the 
greatest alacrity in so pleasing a Prospect of success. 
Several Gentlemen of Interest in the Country, discover- 
ing a Resolution to go as Volunteers in the Expedition 
independent of the other Forces, at their request the 

* A pp. No. 42. 



31 

Lieut. Governour Commissioned Capt. Richard Wright, to 
command them, but Instructed him to obey the General in 
all times of action. This Company consisted of 47 men, 
viz : 32 Gentlemen, officers and men, and 15 Country 
Born Expert Trusty negroes (besides 8 settlement In- 
dians who would join them and no others, and offered to 
serve on Horseback or foot, as occasion should Require), 
Lest the supply Granted Should not prove sufficient for 
the End proposed, the House voted an addition of 200 men 
more, besides which the Lieut. Governour purchased in 
order, at the Inlet of Metanses, at the southward of St. 
Augustine, a Large schooner, with 14 Carriage Guns and 
12 Swivels, which might go where the men-of war could 
not. She w T as manned with 54 men, and in order to make 
her as serviceable as possible, as the men-of war might see 
fit, on some occasion or other, to put more men into her, 
that different Commands by Land or sea might not clash, 
the Lieut. Governour Gave the command of her to Mr. 
Tyrrel, Captain Warren's 2d Lieut., with directions to obey 
the orders of the Commodore. He also sent 12 Eighteen 
Pounders, to be at hand in case there should be occasion 
for them, and thus having so much Exceeded the General's 
own proposal, the Publick Relying on the Justice of its 
cause and the Divine assistance, pleased itself with the 
agreeable Expectation of success. In the meantime the 
Hector and Wolf, men-of-war, arrived from Virginia, as also 
a ship from England, Laden with warlike stores for the 
General, Containing everything fitting for a siege, amongst 
which was 600 lbs. of Gun Powder. And his Majesty's 
Declaration of war against Spain, coming to hand, was Pro- 
claimed in form. The want of Provisions at St. Augustine 
was in the strongest manner Confirmed by Letters found 
on Board a Sloop which Capt. Warren had taken off St. 
Augustine Bound from thence to Havannah, giving a most 
melancholy account thereof, and also by 3 Deserters from 
Augustine. The Levies (agreed of men) to be furnished 
towards the Expedition were Completed within a month 
from the passing of the Act, Sooner than was Expected, and 



32 

having been Detached away from time to time with all the 
Provisions and Ammunition necessary to the General at St. 
Simon's, or if he was gone from there, to St. George's, on 
the north side of St. John's River, the place of Rendezvous 
appointed by him. Conll. Vanderdussen, to whom the 
chief Command of the forces was given by the Lieut. Gov- 
ernor (with Instructions to proceed according to the Gen- 
eral's Directions during the time of action), Embarked on 
Board the Commodore the 9th and set sail the 12th of May. 
Your Committee having then taken a full view of the mo- 
tives which Induced the Legislature to assist General Ogle- 
thorpe in an Expedition against St. Augustine, upon what 
footing it Engaged to do so, and the assistance to give 
thereto, will now proceed, as they at first proposed, to make 
a faithful narrative to the House of the manner in which 
the Expedition was Conducted by the General in the field 
from the time of his Landing in Florida. 

NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 

On the 9th May, 1740,* General Oglethorpe, with what 
forces only were but Just then arrived at St. George's, the 
place of General Rendezvous agreed on, consisting of abt 220 
men of his own Regiment, including an Independent High- 
land Company, 125 men of the Carolina Regiment,f being 
the first Detachment sent under the Command of Capt. 
Lieut. Maxwell and Ensign Blamyer and 103 Indians, of 
which 9 were Creeks, the rest Cherokees, there being then 
no other Field officers of Either Regiment on the spot, 
passed over from thence into Florida and encamped right 
opposite upon the Spanish side of St. Juan's River. Having 

* App. No. 22. 

f Here at the very outset is a contradiction of the assertion, often 
repeated, that the Carolinians were late in arriving at the appointed 
place of rendezvous. A portion of the Regiment reached it simulta- 
neously with a part of that of General Oglethorpe. 

Some writers, with strange inaccuracy, and injustice, even omit all 
mention of Carolinians among the forces engaged in the taking of Fort 
Diego. 



33 

sent out the Indians to reconnoitre the Country, they 
brought in a Negro Prisoner late at night, and gave an 
account of a Fort which they had seen about half way to 
St. Augustine. The Negro gave information that 4 Gallies 
were fitted and manned for this River.* On the 10th, in the 
morning, the General leaving only 20 Invalids of his own 
men and 25 sick or ailing men of the Carolinians, under 
the Command of Ensign Sterling, to Guard the Transports, 
Consisting of 2 sloops in his own service and 4 schooners in 
that of Carolina, on board of which was the Ammunition, 
Provisions, &c, and taking with him a 4 pounder and some 
swivel Guns, inarched out of the Camp 200 of the King's 
Troops, 100 Carolinians, and 100 Indians, with 6 da}'s' Pro- 
visions, to attack the above Fort. He camped that night at 
Lacawela (the first Palmetto Hut on the sea Beach, at about 
16 miles distance, where the Spaniards had once a Lookout), 
where he was obliged to Leave the Guns.f the sands being 
deep, having no Horses to draw them, and the men being 
unable to carry them further. From thence he Detached 
Capt. Lieut. Maxwell, with a party of the Regular Troops 
and of the Carolina Regiment, and one Mr. Brown, with a 
party of Cherokees, to Invest the Fort, being about 9 miles 
further. On the 11th that party, at Break of day, attacked 
it and Burnt a House Just by it, but the Spaniards fired so 
strongly upon them that they were obliged to Retire. About 
2 in the afternoon the General came up with the whole 
body, and having sent out the Indians to hunt up the Span- 
ish Horses and Cattell, rode Round to view the Fort. The 
Spaniards continued firing till night, when he Surrounded 
the place with Guards and Centries. On the 12th, in the 
morning, the General sent' one of his Spanish Prisoners 
with a Drum to summons the Garrison, which thereupon 
offered to Treat, and the Troops, upon being asked, having 
Declared that they were willing to give up their Claim of 
Plunder, the following articles of Capitulation were agreed 
upon : 

*App. No. 23. fAppNo. 22. 



34 

1st. That the Garrison should surrender Prisoners of war 
and deliver up the Fort, with the Cannon and Stores, to the 
King of Great Britain. 

2nd. That they should have liberty to Keep their Bag- 
gage, and not be Plundered. 

3rd. That Seignior Diego Spinola, to whom the Fort be- 
longs, being Built at his charge and on his Lands, should 
hold his Slaves, Lands and such other Effects as were not 
already plundered in the Field. 

4th. That all the Deserters and Negro Runaways from 
Carolina should not have the Benefit of this Capitulation, 
but be Surrendered to Discretion. 

The Garrison marched out, Consisting of 50 men (of 
which some were Negroes), amongst which was Don 
Diego Spinola. Lieut. Dunbar, of the General's Regi- 
ment, and Lieut. Saussure (DeSaussure), of the Carolina 
Regiment, with a party of each entered and took pos- 
session of the Fort, having 9 swivel Guns and 2 Carriage 
of 2 pound shot, beside small arms. It seems this place, 
well Known by the name of Fort Diego, being situated in 
fine Savanna Lands, with Fresh water Ponds, about 20 miles 
Distance from St. Augustine, and about 3 miles from the 
head of a Creek which hath its Entrance at the north point 
of that Barr, was properly a Cow Pen, belonging to the 
above Diego Spinola. a mulatto, who Keeping a Large Stock 
of Cattle there, supplied that Garrison frequently with Beef. 
For his own safety against Indians, he had pallisaded his 
House Round with Cedar Piles about 15 feet high, having 
2 flankers, but no Ditch without. Of late the Governour of 
St. Augustine had spared him a sergeant and 16 men to 
defend in case of need, which were Relieved weekly by the 
like number, and it so Happening that the Relieving party 
came here the night before it was invested, was the Reason 
why so many were found in it. As soon as the Gate was 
taken possession of, an alarm came* that succours were come 
by water and the Horse by land to relieve the Garrison. 

* App. No. 22. 



Upon this the General marched to meet them. The Indians 
Discovered some Horsemen who rid off, and the General, 
going to the Landing place, about 3 miles from the Fort, 
found 2 large Launches that Rowed with 20 oars each, the 
men of which had forsook them. The Indians followed 
them on their track, but the Ground at Last proved so 
Thickety, it was to no purpose, yet they caught about 40 or 
50 Horses. The General having marked out an Intrench- 
ment to be made Round Fort Diego, and left Lieut. Dunbar 
in it with a Garrison of 50 men, returned to St. John's with 
a few Horse, Leaving the Rest of the Forces to march at 
Leisure with the Prisoners after him. The Day after the 
General marched from St. John's, persons who had the Care 
of the Craft, not thinking themselves safe where they Lay, 
on account of the Gallies chiefly, had run into the River 
under Cover of St. George's Fort, which was but a poor 
Shelter, for there were only two 4 pounders, one of which had 
a naii or bit Broke in the Touchhole. On the 13th,* the 
General went over to St. George's, where Lieut. Col. Cook, 
Major Heron and other officers, were arrived with another 
part of his Regiment, and waited for orders, and also some 
of the Carolina Regiment. On the 16th instant, as the Con- 
voy arrived within sight of Fort Diego, some Spanish In- 
dians from the woods having fired,f shot a servant who was 
leading the General's Horse, and Cut off his head. The 
General with the Highlanders and Troops entered the woods 
on foot, and having pursued them so hard that they were 
obliged to Drop the Head, followed them as far as the Negro 
Fort Moosa, within Sight of St. Augustine. There appeared 
2 Spanish Launches on the River, and a Body of Horse and 
Foot. But they retired as soon as the English came within 
2 miles of them. The Rangers caught 30 Horses, and took 
possession of several Houses, which the General preserved 
from Burning, some of them being spacious and good 
buildings, it seems, he thought fit for Quarters for the sick, 
&c. They all Returned to Fort St. Diego the same night, 

* App. No. 22. t App. No. 22. 



36 

having marched that Day not less than 40 miles. On the 
18th the General Returned to the Camp at St. John's, where 
Lieut. Col. Lejeau, of the Carolina Regiment, had arrived 
just after he Left it the 15th, and Major Colleton and 
several other officers after him, with another part of that 
Regiment. The same day Col. Vanderdussen arrived on 
Board Commodore Pearce, in Company with the Phoenix, 
the Hector and Squirrel then lying off the Bar of St. Au- 
gustine. On the 19th the General went on board the Com- 
modore and Returned. Again he made an agreement* with 
Diego Spinola, who was then at Liberty, to pay him for all 
his Cattle that should be Killed the same price as the King 
of Spain paid him for the use of Augustine Garrison ; and 
also if he would go out with his people to hunt for Cattle, 
to allow him a Certain Price per head for all that he should 
drive up, not belonging to himself. The General also Pub- 
lished an orderf forbidding any Person whatever to purchase 
any Horses from the Indians, so that even the officers of 
Either Regiment could have none to Carry their Baggage. 
On the 20th, | at 2 in the afternoon, the General having 
ordered to Beat to arms, Col. Vanderdussen went to him 
to Know the Reason. The General told him that he had 
Received an account by which he was informed that the 
Spaniards had sallied out of St. Augustine in order to 
attack Fort Diego, and had actually Invested the place. 
Major Heron was Detached away immediately with 50 men, 
and all the Rest ordered to march at Break of Day with 
Days' Provisions. About 8 in the morning the General, 
taking Lieut. Col. Cook, marched, and leaving a Company 
in his Camp, marched with about 250 men of the Carolina 
Regiment, leaving 1 Company also in that Camp. The 
march was so hard and the Day so hot that 100 fainted tor 
want of water, and Dropped by the way; 2 of the General's 
men died on the march. At Lacanola all the Troops of both 
Regiments halted till about sunset. But the General him- 
self with ye Highland Company marched on, overtook 

* App. No. 23. f App. No. 23. % A pp. No. 24. 



37 

Major Heron and arrived in sight of Fort Diego before sun- 
set. Having sent a Detachment to see how things were, 
they brought word that it was a false alarm, occasioned by 
the Garrison and Indians in the woods firing their arms to 
clean them after a Rain ; which ye Hunters 'twas Said 
mistook. Then the General marked oat a Camp, about the 
same time, Just before Sunset. The Troops ended their 
march from Laconola, having mounted on Carriage wheels 
the 4 Pounder which ye General had left there in the sands 
10 Days before, and was now drawn b} r 20 men at one mile 
Distance, the way to Fort Diego striking up from the sand 
over a high Ridge of Land, the Gun was, with Great Diffi- 
culty, helped over by our men, and carried along after 
Diego Spinola, who was left by the General for a Guide to 
the Troops, and altho' the Distance they had to go farther 
was but 9 miles, He misled them so far out of the way that 
they did not reach Fort Diego till one in the morning. 
There, no place being alloted for our Troops, they were 
obliged to lie down where they halted. In the meantime 
the Prisoners which had been Carried down from Fort Diego 
to St. John's were this day just put aboard the man-of-war, 
and the rest by the General's officers on board the Carolina 
Transports, some of which Latter no way Searched, nor any 
Guard placed over them, made their escape. On the 21st, 
the General, taking Col. Vanderdussen with him, and 
Lieut Col. Cook, Major Heron, and Capt. Horbury, all on 
Horseback, with a few Highlanders on Foot and some 
Indians, went from Fort Diego towards Augustine to Recon- 
noitre the Point near the Bar. They went on with such 
speed, the weather being very hot, that the Indians left 
them before they got half way : The Highlanders dropped 
down by the way, one of which died in the march, and 
Lieut. Col. Cook and Capt. Horbury, both in years, and very 
faint from excessive heat and want of water, by the General's 
Directions returned back. The General, Col. Vanderdussen 
and Major Heron Kept on and went within a league of 
Augustine, in sight of the Island Anastatia, having viewed 
the Ground, they got back to Fort Diego about 2 in the 



38 

morning, heartily fatigued, having left their Horses at last 
unable to walk. On the 22nd, the General and Col. Van- 
derdussen went down to the Camp at St. John's, where 
Lieut. Col. Cook was gone before, in order to get up the 
ammunition and Provisions to Fort Diego. That day 
another part of the Carolina Regiment arrived there, as also 
Lieut. Bryan, with part of the Company of Volunteers. On 
the 23rd, a small party was sent out of the Carolina Camp 
at Fort Diego to scout towards Augustine, and Returned 
that Evening. On the 24th, a party of 64 men of the Caro- 
lina Regiment marched from ye Camp at St. John's to Fort 
Diego with Provisions, the Volunteers Joining them; a 
party of the General's also marched from thence with a Cart 
Load of Provisions for their men at Diego. About this 
Time the General sent to Augustine two of the Spanish 
Prisoners which he had taken at Fort Diego, with Letters 
to Encourage, as he said, the men of that Garrison to desert 
to him, promising good usage, &c, but they never returned. 
On the 25th, a small party was sent out of the General's 
Camp at Fort Diego, to scout and returned again, and another 
small party was sent from the Carolina Camp there to that 
at St. John's. On the 2dth, a small party was sent out of 
the Carolina Camp at Fort Diego to scout and return again. 
The same day, in the evening, the General, Leaving Lieut. 
Col. Cook with a party of 40 or 50 men, with the artillery, 
&c, at St. John's, set out with another party of his men for 
Fort Diego. On the 27th, that part of the Carolina Regi- 
ment which came to ye Camp at St. John's the 25th, 
returned to that at Fort Diego ; at the same time a Boat 
with Provisions and a party of our men was sent to the 
Palmetto Hut (Lacanola), and Col. Vanderdussen went there 
with a small party to see them land, but the Southerly wind 
preventing it, he returned with some men of another party, 
that had come from Fort Diego to carry them up. The 
same day Lieut. Col. Lejeau Sent out ot the Camp at Fort 
Diego a Large party in order to Discover a Creek reported 
to be about 4 miles, by which he was in hopes the Provis- 
ions might be brought from St. John's. The General also, 



39 

in the evening, marched out of his Campt at Fort Diego 
about 100 men of his Regiment, witli Lieut. Bryan, and of 
the Volunteers and a party of Indians. On the 20th, the 
General having marched all night,* about Daybreak coming 
within 5 or 6 miles of Augustine, he came in sight of 5 
scattered Houses, in Some of which Smoke appeared. 
Thereupon having caused the whole body to halt at about 
a Quarter of a Mile Distance, he ordered Lieut. Bryan with 
6 Volunteers under him only to march up and attack those 
Houses; the Volunteers obeyed, entered, and searched every 
one of them, and having Brought forth 2 Negro Prisoners 
(Some others Escaping for want of more assistance), The 
General then advancing with the whole party said : "Well, 
I see the Carolina men have Courage, but no Conduct." On 
which Lieut. Bryan Replied, Sir, the Conduct is yours. 
The Volunteers would have Burnt the Houses, but the 
General Refused to permit them to do it ; saying that they 
would serve for the Inhabitants that he should bring there. 
The 2 Negroes having confessed that they were Carolina 
Negroes (the one having Runaway from Mr. Parker, and 
the other having been carried away by the Indians from 
Col. Gibbes), and they being, according to one of the stip- 
ulationsf with the General, Returnable to the owners upon 
paying £5 Sterling per head to the Captors, the Volunteers 
offered to pay him one-half the salvage and Keep them, or 
to Receive one-half and give them up to him ; but the 
General, claiming a property in them, Refused both and 
took them to himself. It seems that the General had also 
before, at Diego, taken away from those Volunteers several 
Horses which they had caught to carry their Baggage, and 
altho' Cattle were very Plenty, yet it was with great diffi- 
culty that they could, whilst they were there, obtain any 
Fresh Provisions, being generally left to shift for themselves, 
tho' the General was frequently acquainted with it, who 
said Diego Spinola should be paid for all that were Killed. 
This day the Party sent, out by the Carolina Camp at Fort 

* App. Nos. 28 and 37. t App. No. 29. 



40 

Diego the Day -before, Returned without making the Ex- 
pected Discovery, and a fresh Party was sent down to Pal- 
metto Hut to assist in carrying up the Prisoners. The same 
day Col. Vanderdussen, in the morning Early, in the 
Camp at St. John's, Struck most of the Tents which, with 
a Quantity of Provisions, &c, were put on Board Boats and 
sent away to the Palmetto Hut (Lacanola). He went him- 
self with a party of men to see the same Landed, and 
returned again that night. On the 29th, at Day Break, all 
the Tents in the Camp at St. John's were Struck and every- 
thing put on board Boats to be sent to the Palmetto Hut. 
At the same time another part of the Carolina Regiment 
arrived there in the afternoon. Col. Vanderdussen. hav- 
ing orders to Beat to arms, marched all the men to the Pal- 
metto Hut from thence, leaving nothing at St. John's but 
the Transports with Provisions, ammunition, &c. Lieut. 
Col. Lejeau had marched down to the Palmetto Hut, from 
Fort Diego, 250 men, who carried up thither most of the 
Provisions, &c. The General Returned that night late* to 
Fort Diego with the party which he carried from thence 
the 27th. The 2 Negroes which had been taken gave infor- 
mation that the People of Augustine were in a Starving 
Condition. On the 30th, Col. Vanderdussen, leaving a 
small party to Guard the Provisions, &c , Remaining at 
the Palmetto Hut, marched from thence and came to the 
Camp at Fort Diego ; there the Carolina Regiment, viz : So 
much of it was then arrived, being ordered under arms by 
the Colonel,! was reviewed by the General. The Field 
Return was 378 men, besides Field Officers, Volunteers and 
Cadets. In the evening, Ensign Mace, with a Detachment 
of 42 men from Both Regiments, was sent to take Post on 
Augustine Point. 

About this time many of the Creek Indians, a fresh party 
of which had Joined the General at St. John's, with Thomas 
Jones,! who being of Indian Extract, was Employed by him 
as a Linguist to the Creeks and Euchees and to head them, 

* App. No. 80. f App. No. 31. J App. No. 32. 



41 

being Tired with Constant fatigue Day and Night in Range- 
ing near 3 weeks only Backward and forward, and disheart- 
ened that there was no prospect of attacking Augustine, 
returned home. It seems the General had ordered Jones to 
Keep out Constantly Scouting Round the Country with 
these Indians to watch the Enemy's Motions, and to En- 
deavour to take some Prisoners. But Positively Enjoined 
him not to permit the Indians to destroy any Houses, and 
Jones had often told the General that they would soon be 
tired with that way of Proceeding, for that they loved to 
go and do their Business at once and return home again, to 
which the General had Replied, if they have a mind to go 
home don't Disturb them, let them go. The Cherokees 
also grew weary and were disgusted* because the General 
had shewed some anger for their Killing some Cattle at 
Diego, and would not permit them to do it. Csesar, one of 
their Head Men, said it was a strange thing that they were 
permitted to Kill the Spaniards, but not their Cattle, and 
Threatened to Carry all his men home. On the 31st, the 
General told Col. Vanderdussenf that the 2 negroes he had 
taken informed him that the Spaniards would place their 
Indians and Negroes in ambuscade at some distance from 
Augustine, and that their Troops were to sally out upon 
the appearance of our army, and ordered him to get his 
Regiment in Readiness to march, with 5 Days' Provisions, 
to recomioitrej the Town and Castle of Augustine, all the 
accounts Yet Given of it not being to be Relied on. In the Eve- 
ning the General|| marched out of his Camp about 300 men 
(including the Highland Company and Rangers), with the 
Indians, taking the 4 pounder drawn by soldiers and a 
Spanish Negro for Guide, who had Deserted from Augustine 
to Fort Diego, was at Large, and stiled by the General, Capt. 
Jack. Col. Vanderdussen followed with about 400 of his 
Regiment§ (including Volunteers and Cadets), but the men 
would not Carry above 3 Days' Provisions. The march 
proved Tedious on account of the many Palmetto Roots, 

* App. No. 28. f A pp. No. 33. % A pp. No. 25. 

|| App. No. 25. I App. No. 33. 



42 

Marshes and Creeks in the Path, which made it Difficult to 
Carry the Gun along, and obliged them to make Causeys 
for it. About one in the morning the whole army halted 
by a Run of water* at about 12 miles Distance, and lay on 
their arms all the rest of the night. On the 1st June, at 4 
in the afternoon, the army Renewed the march, with the like 
Difficulties. At ten o'clk a Great thunder Storm, Lightning 
and Rain coming up,f made Both men and arms very wet. 
They continued marching, it being so Dark that nothing 
could be seen before them (tho' after some time the weather 
cleared up), until they came to Some Palmetto Houses, 
where they Halted about one Hour. At 12 o'clock the 
moon Rising, the army marched again, at last left the Gun 
behind them. On the 2nd, before Day, they got to a 
Dividing Path within 2 miles of St. Augustine, one way 
leading thither, and the other to the Negro Fort Moosa, a 
little way off to the left hand, where the army halted. Here 

Col.t , who attended the General in the Expedition 

as a Volunteer,|| at his particular desire, because he had been 
at the head of an Expedition in 1727 against the Spanish 
Indians living close by Augustine, offered to go in at the 
head of 200 Carolinians and a Party of Indians and burn 
the Town,§ which the General Refused, saying it was too 
hot-headed or hazardous an action ,1 that he knew what he 
had to do ;° that it was the Custom of armies to shew them- 

* App. No. 34. )• A pp. No. 35. 

% The name is omitted — probably by accident. The blank should 
undoubtedly be filled with the name Palmer. For we know from 
other sources that he was sent in 1727 to punish a party of Yemassees 
led by Spaniards, who had invaded settlements near Pon Pon. Indeed 
this is mentioned in the Introduction to this Report. 

|| App. No. 36. I App. No. 37. \ App. No. 38. 

° This brings to mind an amusing and illustrative passage in Lord 
Macaulay's writings. Its pertinence will be obvious to the reader: 

" M. Jourdain admired correctness in fencing — ' you had no business 
to hit me then ; you must never thrust in quart until you have thrust in 
tierce.' * * * We have heard of an old German Officer who was a great 
admirer of correctness in military operations. He used to revile Buof 
naparte for spoiling the science of war which had been carried to such 
exquisite perfection by Marshal Daun ; ' in my youth we used to march 



43 

selves to the Enemy first and make a feint. It seems Col. 
Palmer* had several times upon his march proposed the 
same thing, but the General always Refused it, and often 
said that he would not, by any means, have the Town 
burnt ;f adding, when he Halted that the Houses would be 
very serviceable to him. The General, soon Renewing the 
march, took the left hand Path,|| and Just about Day Break 
entered Fort Moosa, which had been abandoned. This Fort, 
being about 20 miles from Fort Diego, was made in the 
middle of a Plantation for Safety of the Negroes against 
Indians ; it was 4 Square, with a Flanker at each Corner, 
banked Round with earth, having a Ditch without on all 
sides, Lined round with Prickly Palmetto Royal, and had a 
well and a House within, and a lookout. As soon as the 
Forces were perceived from the Castle the Guns were played 
from thence towards them. At 8 or 9 o'clock the General 
went with Col. Vanderdussen to Reconnoitre the Castle, 
and ordered the Drums with a party to advance a good 
Distance towards it, and there to Beat the Grenadier's 
march, which being accordingly done, was answered by the 
Cannon from the Castle.§ They found it to be a Regular 
Fortification, and very strong, with a great many new addi- 
tions, and agreed that it would Be impracticable to attack 
it upon that side without those materials which they could 
not bring By Land, they being too heavy ; But observed 
that Point Quartell, which lies on the north of the Bar, and 
separated from the Negro Fort by a Creek, would be very 

and countermarch all the summer without gaining or losing a square 
league— and then we went into winter quarters. And now comes an 
ignorant but hot-headed young man who flies about from Boulogne to 
Ulm, and from Ulm to the middle of Moravia, and fights battles in 
Dec'r ! ! The whole system of his tactics is monstrously incorrect.' 

The world is of opinion, in spite of critics like these, that the end of 
fencing is to hit; that the end of war is to conquer; and that those 
means are the most correct which best accomplish the ends." 

Marshal Daun flourished in the middle of the last century — so did 
General Oglethorpe — perhaps some apology for the General may be 
found in a too great admiration of the perfect science of the Marshal. 

* A pp. No. 39. f A pp. No. 28. J App. No. 38. 

|| App. No. 39. I A pp. No. 40. 



44 

lit for a Battery, in order to Secure a Communication with 
the men-of-war. At the same time, Lieut. Bryan, of the 
Volunteers, with 3 or 4 of the Rangers, went almost Close 
up to the Town, and brought off 3 Horses; he perceived the 
Town was in the utmost tumult and Confusion, the Inhab- 
itants screeching and crying. Upon his Return, told the 
General of it, and hearing himself talk of withdrawing the 
Forces, he asked the General if it would not be best to 
attack the Town then ; that was the Time to do it ; for that If 
he Retreated they would make preparations against his 
Return. To which the General Replied, that If he attempted 
to storm the Town, he should lose 300 men ;* at the same time 
the men Discovered a Desire to attack it ;f and as it appeared 
afterwards by Deserters, the Government had ordered the In- 
habitants, in Case of an attack, to go into the Castle. J In the 
afternoon|| a violent Shower of Rain fell, and tho' the House§ 
in the Fort Moosa was big enough to have Contained all 
the arms of Both Regiments, besides a great part of the 
men, Yet the Carolina Arms in particular, being exposed, 
were Rendered unfit for action, and some of the Volunteers 
as well as officers of the Carolina Regiment, having be- 
taken themselves for shelter to that House (where some of 
the General's officers as well as privates were), were obliged 
to Turn out again into the weather, by the General's severely 
Reprimanding his Centinel at the Doors for letting them 
in, saying that he could not be Guilty of a Greater Crime, 
and that he deserved a Thousand lashes. In the Dark of 
the Evening the General went out again towards the Castle! 
with 150 men and a great many Drums, the Drums being 
at a great distance from each other in the Dark, Beat a 
inarch in Several Parties, which set the People in the Castle 
to firing their Cannon and small arms in platoons all Round 
them ; after which the General Returned, having done this, he 
said, to Disturb them that they might not Disturb us. This 
night one of the General's men Deserted to the Enemy at 
Sun Rise. On the 3d the General having made 2 Breaches 

■' \|>]>. No. 28. fApp. No. 28. J App. No. 25 

|| App. No. 39. \ App. Nos. 28 and 37. \ App. No. 39. 



45 

in the Fort Moosa, taken away the Gate, and burnt the 
House therein, altho' he was told that might serve for an 
Hospital, marched Back to Fort Diego with Drum beating 
and Colours flying. Being out of Provisions, the men wil- 
lingly performed a hard march, but many of the General's 
men, greatly fatigued, gave out and dropped upon the 
march ; upon which the General ordered any man that 
lagged behind to be shot. They Reached Fort Diego before 
sunset ; there they found Ensign Mace, Returned the Day 
before in the morning from Augustine Point, ,who had on 
the 1st seen 6 English men-of-war and a sloop come to 
Augustine Bar, and seeing 2 Spanish Gallies, upon their dis- 
covering him, coming towards him, thought proper to 
march off the Day before, and this Day a party had been 
sent from the Carolina Camp at Fort Diego to the Palmetto 
Hut for Provisions, against the Return of the Troops, which 
brought Information that the Wolf and Spence sloop of war 
were lying off that Place. This night the Chicasaw Indians 
arrived in the Camp. On the 4th the Euchee Indians 
arrived also, and a party was sent from the Carolina Camp 
to St. John's, with orders to furnish with necessaries Some 
more men of that Regiment, then supposed to be arrived 
there, and to forward them to Fort Diego. In the afternoon 
Col. Vanderdussen went down to the Palmetto Hut. 
Several officers and men had leave to go also to look after 
their Baggage, which, upon their quick marching thence, 
they had been obliged to Leave there. On the 5th all the 
Volunteers* then at Diego (Except Col. Barnwell, who 
Stayed and acted as an Aid de Camp to the General, and 
one more), being Disgusted at the Treatment they had met 
with and Disappointed in their Expectation of attacking 
the Town of St. Augustine, Returned to St. John's with a 
Resolution to go home again. f There meeting with the 

*App. Nos.28and37. 

t These Volunteers had joined the Expedition with the expectation, 
to which Gen. Oglethorpe's letters and words had given rise, that "a 
sudden and vigorous effort " was to be made. They had not enlisted 
for a term. The failure of the plan they came to assist absolved them 
from obligation to take part in a siege. 



40 

Rest of the Company of Voluntiers Just arrived, Lieut. 
Bryan proceeded no Further himself, but Joined them. The* 
Tartar, man-of-war, came to anchor off the Palmetto Hut,* 
in order to water and to Deliver a Letter from the Commo- 
dore to the General. She had on board Several stores from 
Carolina for the Expedition, a fresh Detachment of men, 
and Capt. Wright, of the Volunteers. Col. Vanderdussen, 
who Returned in the morning early from the Palmetto Hut,f 
Received orders from the General to march with the Caro- 
lina Regiment and take possession of Point Quartell. Ac- 
cordingly, at 5 in the evening, with no more Provisions 
than was sufficient for the next day, and that, for want of 
Horses, carried on their backs, together with their Tents, 
&c. He marched all of the Regiment that were able to 
march. They proceeded down to sea about 3 miles to the 
2nd Palmetto Hut, about 6 miles Distance from the other, 
then marched along the Beach 'til about 12 o'clock and 
Halted, being greatly Tired. On the 6th, about in the 
morning,| they Reached Point Quartell, in Sight of St. 
Augustine Castle, supposed to be within a Cannon Shot, 
and Encamped|| behind a Ridge of Sand Hills, 4 men-of-war 
appearing then in Sight lying off the Bar, Viz : the Flam- 
borough, the Hector, Squirrel, and Phoenix, and 3 more 
were lying off the Palmetto Hut, Viz : The Tartar, Wolf, 
and Spence. Col. Vanderdussen sent orders to St. John's 
for the Boats to bring Provisions Round, and Desired Capt. 
Townshend, of the Tartar, to Land the 18 Pounders and 
their Carriages at this Point. Six Gallies appeared in Sight, 
being under the Castle, each of them, as was found after- 
wards, Rowed with 20 oars, and had a cashoo piece or 9 
pounder in the Bow, Some Swivel Guns fore and aft, 30 men 
and 2 officers, and had come there from the Havanna, with 
2 Sloops Loaded with Provisions,! before the Troops got to 
the place of Rendezvous. In the afternoon the Centry on 
the Hill gave notice that 3 of the Gallies were in motion, 
coming down to the Point. Col. Vanderdussen, thinking 

* App. No. 42. f A pp. No. 43. X App. No. 44. 

||App. No. 45. gApp. No. 46. 



47 

they were going to Land men to attack him, ordered the 
Regiment under arms and Marched along the Beach toward 
the Point, which was about a Quarter of a mile Distance. 
The Gallies, directed by the Colours, Kept an alternate fire 
and Shortened their Powder so well that not one shot fell 
20 yards from the men. Having opened the Castle, Col. 
Vanderdussen caused the Regiment to halt, and perceiving 
that the Gallies were not inclinable to Land any men, he 
ordered them to the Right about and marched Slowly Back 
till they got under cover. The Gallies having fired about 
20 Shots (some of which were taken up and Carried into the 
Camp), Retired back to the Castle. The Commodore having 
by this firing Discovered the Regiment to be there,* sent 3 
Boats ashore with his own Lieut, and those of the Hector 
and Phoenix, who Delivered to Col. Vanderdussen the 
following Resolution of a Council of War, held by the Com- 
manders of his Majesty's Ships off the Bar of Augustine, on 
Board the Flamborough, the day before ye, 5th June, which 
he desired him to communicate to the General, Viz : 

Present : 

Capt. VINCENT PEARCE. 

Sr. YELVERTON PEYTON, Bart. 

Capt. CHARLES FANSHAWE. 

Capt. PETER WARREN. Capt. WILLIAM LAWS. 

General Oglethorpe having desired to Know the longest 
time his Majesty's Ships can stay upon this Coast, the opin- 
ion of the Council was demanded thereon, and having 
examined the Pilots of all his Majesty's Ships here, 'Tis Our 
Unanimous Opinion that we cannot stay here Longer than 
the 5th July next without running the utmost Hazard of 
his Majesty's Ships going on shore, but in Case the Easterly 
winds should sett in we must Depart sooner. Then the 
question was put, what further service we could do towards 
the Reduction of St. Augustine? It is agreed by the Council 
that If General Oglethorpe Besieges the Fortress we will 

* App. No. 47. 



•is 

spare 200 men more to attack and take possession of the 
Island of Eustatia, which appears to be absolutely necessary 
towards the Reduction of St. Augustine, as it will cut off 
the ( lommunications by sea, which will answer the End of 
the Ships till the Season of the Year will admit of their 
Returning on the Service. 

VINCENT PEARCE. 

YELVERTON PEYTON. 

CHARLES FANSHAWE. 

The Island of Eustatia, or Anastatia, in the Bay opposite, the 
North end of which, together with Point Quartell, formed 
the Inlet to St. Augustine over the Bar used by the Vessels 
of Burden, and the South end, with the Land opposite 
thereto, formed the Inlet Called the Mantansas, by which 
small vessels usually entered. In the mean time, the Gen- 
eral, having received the Letter sent him from the Commo- 
dore by the men-of-w r ar off the Palmetto Hut, was heard to 
say, after having Read it, that would do, it was the thing 
he wanted.* On the 7th Col. Vanderdussen, having with a 
small party gone all Round Point Quartell and Viewed the 
Place.f sent, as Desired, by Express to the General the above 
Resolution of the Council of War, held by the Commanders 
of his Majesty's Ships, and at same time acquainted him 
that he had viewed the Ground where he was, and that In; 
did not think there could be found a place so convenient 
for covering our men and Planting a Battery to Command 
the River and Keep the Gallics in awe, as at the Point. 
The Mortars might be placed under cover of some Hills and 
within half Gun Shot of the Castle, and If it should be 
necessary to make a Battery for Battering the Town, that it 
might be done without being Exposed to their Guns, and 
that he had desired the Commodore to Send for Capt. 
Townshend,with all from the Palmetto Hut, in order to Land 
the Guns and Carriages there which he had on board. 
Soon after Col. Vanderdussen Dispatched another Letter! to 
the General, Representing to him that having heard his 

* App. No. 42. f App. No. 49. t A pp. No. 50. 



49 

officers had stopped the Boat which he had ordered to take 
in Provisions for him at Palmetto Hut, as he had no Pro- 
visions but what was to have been Brought in that Boat, he 
had, therefore, been Obliged to Send some of his men to 
fetch what they could, which could not be much, for that 
they were not yet Recovered of their last march, and hardly 
able to Perform a Second without a Load, and Desired, as 
he had no Horses, that the General would order that Boat 
to be Delivered to his men that he might bring Provisions, 
and be then read}' to take the great Guns ashore, for which 
purpose he had no other. In the evening that party of men 
which came from Carolina in the Tartar got into the Camp 
at Point Quartell. On the 8th, at 3 in the morning, Col. 
Vanderdussen Received an Express* from the General, ac- 
quainting him that he had ordered the Scotch Highlanders, 
Rangers, and some Indians, with a fresh Company of the 
Carolina Regiment, Commanded by Capt. Bull, just arrived 
at John's, and then on his march, by the Col.'s orders to 
Join the Regiment, to march and Retake Possession of the 
Negro Fort. Afterwards the Commodore sent his Boat 
ashore and informedf Col. A^anderdussen that he had sent 2 
men-of-war to the Palmetto Hut to Receive the General 
aboard, with 200 men of his Regiment, in order to carry 
them Round! to the Island Anastatia. Upon this the Col. 
wrote Back to the Commodore that he had received that 
morning a letter from the General, by which he Informed 
him that he had sent the above party to Retake possession 
of the Negro Fort, but that he did not say anything of his 
going to Embark on board those ships; That If the same 
was put in Execution, he took it to be a very great dis- 
service to the whole affair, for that it would Leave the Gal- 
lies masters of the Harbour, to stop all Communications 
between them but that by the sea, which was very uncer- 
tain. But if his opinion was to be followed, which was also 
Col. Cook's, he would have all the Guns and other Imple- 
ments of war Landed at that Point, or at Least as many as 
should be found necessary, and then Raise their Batteries, 

*App. No. 51. f App. No. 53. J App. No. 52. 

4 



50 

which would make them masters of the Harbour, when 
they might pass over at Pleasure with their Boats, and the 
men-of-war to assist them, and might march across with 
part of their men to secure the Matansas, leaving Col. Cook 
there with the Rest to manage the Batteries and Bombs, 
and might secure themselves in the same manner a passage 
over the South of the Town without being hurt by the 
Gallies, by which they would be Harrassed on all sides 
without having it in their Power to help themselves, or 
hurt us. That as he should not have an opportunity to see 
the General, he Desired that he would take this a Little into 
his Consideration. Col. Vanderdussen dispatched also the 
following Letter to the General at the Camp of St. Augus- 
tine : 

June the 8th, 1740. 

Sir : I Received Your Excellency's Letter at 3 o'clock 
this morning. Captain Pearce's Boat is Just come ashore, 
and I have sent her Back to desire some Provisions. He 
informs me by a Letter that he had Sent down Capt. War- 
ren and Capt. Laws to Receive Your Excellency on board, 
with 200 men of your Regiment, in order to Carry Round 
to the Island, which will, in my opinion, be a wrong step, 
and I am afraid may overset the whole in Retarding the 
time, which is so short by the Resolution of the Council of 
War, and therefore ought to be made the most of ; and it 
will also Leave the Enemy at Liberty on the Island side to 
fetch their Cattle and other Provisions, therefore am of 
opinion that nothing can be of Greater service than the 
Fortifying of this Point, as I have mentioned before, which 
would secure a passage across without any interruption. 
And If your Excellency will only Send Round the Craft I 
will undertake to Land all the Guns and everything else 
that is necessary. Therefore I beg your Excellency to give 
orders that the Boat belonging to Col. Stephens that was 
stopped by your order may be Delivered to my People, as 
it is not Possible to bring Round my Provisions and other 



51 

necessaries, it not being possible to have any Dependence 

upon the other Boats sailing up here, as the wind stands. 

I remain your Excellency's most humble servant, 

ALEXANDER VANDERDUSSEN. 

The same day Lieut. Col. Cook, who had been left by the 
General in the Camp at St. John's, with the Artillery and 
Provisions, wrote to Col. Vanderdussen the following Letter : 

St. Mathew's, June 8th, 1740. 

Sir : *I had a Letter from the General this morning, about 
3 o'clock, with yours enclosed, by which I am sorry to hear 
you are in such distress for want of Provisions. I am Ex- 
tremely Concerned to find we are going on Entirely in a 
new System of war, in Beginning, as I call it, at the wrong 
end, which puts me quite out of Element. I have been at 
the attack as w r ell as the Defense of several Places of con- 
siderable strength, and always found that the Greatest care 
and stress lay in the bringing up of the Train with Good 
Magazines and Stores of Provisions near at hand ; but here 
I find it quite otherwise. I had orders some Days ago to 
put on board everything that lay upon the strand in the 
Camp, before which had drawn the two Providence Mortars 
to Diego. I shipped one of the Howitzers with some spoils 
on board one of your Schooners, the Dorchester, and the 4 
six pounders with shot, and a pretty many shells on board 
the Sarah for all the Different Mortars as well as for the 
Large Mortar now on Board the Commodore. Mr. Wright 
tells me you have ordered all the Boats and Vessels belong- 
ing to the Province of Carolina to come Immediately to you, 
excepting two, which are Landed [loaded] with Provisions. 
Now the General's orders are that those two Boats are to be 
sent to you, and all the Rest to anchor (for these are his 
words) off of the South shore in- safety, as Mr. Logie Directs. 
Now I suppose he means in this Harbour, tho' Logie (and 
several others) is not of that opinion. However they are to 
stay in the said place till further orders from his Excellency, 

* App. No. 54. 



52 

who tells lie is then going aboard a man-of-war, but lets 
me no further into the secret of his Expedition. I have 
Likewise his orders to remove all the Camp from the Banks 
of the River of St. Mathews to the Palmetto Hut, the nearest 
to Diego, there to Encamp. As I have long since mounted 
one of the Howitzers on Machine Carriages for that Purpose 
I shall bring it to that place, and shall fetch the 2 Provi- 
dence Mortars from Diego, and hope your assistance to draw 
them from thence to Point Quartell, since by your Letter to 
his Excellency [it appears] that no place can be more con- 
venient, as you find the said Hills there Batteries ready 
made for that purpose. I am persuaded that neither he nor 
any others can find fault with that conduct. I am told in 
Private that the General is gone with the men-of-war to the 
Matansas, otherwise I should venture to send out Dorches- 
ter and Sarah, with the Rest of the Train, up to Point 
Quartell, But If they should be all gone, the Gallies might 
come out and sweep our whole Train, etc., from us, but I 
am in hopes such an error as that could never be committed 
in any Council of War. I have no more to add, but I am 
Your most faithfull humble servant, 

WILL'M COOK. 

P. S. — I was in hopes to have marched this day, but have 
been Delayed in Removing the Provisions from one Boat to 
another. 

This Day Col. Vanderdussen applied* to the Commodore 
for some Provisions, who sent him ashore some Bread, Beef 
and Pork, and a party of men was also sent to the Palmetto 
Hut for Rice. In the mean time the General at Fort Diego 
gave orders to the following party to be ready to march the 
next Day to Fort Moosa, Viz : Capt. Mcintosh, with the 
Independent Highland Company of about 60 men, a Ser- 
geant and 1 2 men of the Regiment, 23 Rangers, Viz : Capt. 
Hugh McKay, with 11 Georgians, and Capt. Wm. Palmer, 
with 10 Carolinians, in the General's pay, and Thos. Jones, 

*App. Nos. 22,36,37. 



53 

with 35 Creek and Euchee Indians, making in the whole 
not Less than 130 nor more than 133 men. Capt. Palmer 
(who was employed* in this Expedition by the General, with 
his men.t Cowpens or to drive up Cattle and Horses for 
his own use, for which Last he was to have, Besides his pay, 
£40 for every Horse and =£30 for every Mare he should 
catch, and was particularly Enjoyned not to Destroy any 
Houses If the People had Quitted them) was ordered to 
make Excursions from Moosa, and Jones also was Directed 
to Keep the Indians always out Scouting. The Command 
of the whole Party was verbally given by the General to 
Col. Palmer,| with Directions to Alarm the Spaniards in St. 
Augustine as often as he could, and to Camp every night 
in the woods. The Col. told the General that the men were 
too few, and that he should have at Least 200 white men. 
The General Replyed that If he was unwilling to go, he 
would send one of his own officers, upon which the Col. 
said he would go. The General, However, assured him 
that he would send more men to him.|| On the 9th§ the 
above party set off for Fort Moosa, having no more Pro- 
visions with them than what they Carried in their Knap- 
sacks, which, it seems, was Eight pounds of Bread Each, 
ordered by the General. Before they Departed, Col. Palmer 
repeated to the General that he had too few men, and added, 
Sir : You are going to sacrifice these men,! to which the 
General answered, that as soon as he had taken possession 
of the Island Anastatia he would send him more assistance. 
Soon after they were gone, the General. Leaving Fort Diego 
Garrisoned as before, marched down to the nearest Palmetto 
Hut on the Sea Beach, there meeting with Capt. Bull and 
his Company, who the day before, on his march to Joyn 
the Carolina Regiment, by orders, in writing, from Col. 
Vanderdussen, had Received a Verbal order from him to 

* App. No. 36. 

f Evidently some words are here omitted, perhaps, " to search for " 
cowpens, &c. 

X App. Nos. 55 and 36. II App. Nos. 32 and 37. 

\ App. Nos. 64 and 37. \ A pp. No. 32. ° App. No. 56. 



54 

Joyn Col. Palmer, lie countermanded that order, and ordered 
him to proceed to Point Quarteil, then he embarked on 
board the men-of-war there with his Regiment, then con- 
sisting of 257 officers and men (having only 10 Days' Pro- 
visions and Scarce any ammunition but what was in their 
Cartouch Boxes), and about 100 Indians. This Day Lieut. 
Col. Lejeau went from the Camp at Point Quarteil to St. 
John's to order out all the Carolina Transports there, Ex- 
cept that with the Indian Presents, Round to that Point, in 
his way finding the Boat with Rice and Meat on board, 
which the General stopped at the Palmetto Hut nearest to 
St. John's, where Ensign Gough had been Left with a Guard 
to take care of the Carolina Provisions, &c, Landed there, 
he ordered her away Directly to the Camp at Point Quar- 
teil. The same Day Lieut. Col. Cook moved the Camp 
from St. John's and marched along the Beach with one 
Howitzer, drawn by about 50 men. On the 10th, in the 
morning, having seen all the Transports put out, and 
ordered from St. John's one of them to touch and take in 
those things which Lay at the Palmetto Hut, Lieut. Col. 
Lejeau Returned Back. On his way he ordered Ensign 
Gough at the Hut to put on board that vessel Everything 
under his care. Whilst he was there, Diego Spinola came 
there on Horse Back, under no Guard, and in the Evening 
coming to the further Hut, he found only a Sergeant and 5 
men, Guarding the General's Provisions,* &c, Left there. 
This Day a party of the Spanish Indians, who had Landed 
in the night, not above a mile from the Carolina Camp at 
Point Quarteil, fell upon Some Cherokees on the Sea Beach, 
who were going to it, and Killed two of them. Col. Van- 
derdussen inarched 3 Companies Immediately, upon whose 
Approach they fled. He pursued them back through the 
Bushes to the w T ater side of St. Juan's River, behind the 
Camp, where they Got on board their Boat, the Gallies 
coming at the same time to Support them. Capt. Bull, with 
his Company, got into the Camp at Point Quarteil. The 
party which the General sent with Col. Palmer arrived at 
*App. No. 57. 



55 

Fort Moosa,* all but the Rangers, entered immediately, and 
began to Encamp within. The Colonel Disapproved of it, 
and signified that it was the General's Directions to Camp 
by night in the woods ; he told them that that Place might 
prove a grave to them (as it had been dismantled), and 
that he had much Rather Encamp anywhere in open 
Ground, where he could fight his Enemy Round about 
wherever he could find an advantage ; but Mcintosh and 
McKay neither paid any Regard thereto, but got each to 
making a Palmetto House for themselves as well as the 
men. The Colonel, thus not- being obeyed, camped with 
the Rangers without the Fort. In the afternoon, Col. Van- 
derdussen, perceiving from Point Quartell English Colours 
Hoisted in Fort Moosa, and being Desirous to open a Com- 
munication, Sent a man,f who swam across the River, with 
a Letter to that purpose, Directed to the Commanding officer, 
which Letter was Received, opened, and answered by Capt. 
Hugh McKay. On the 11th, in the morning, a fresh party 
was sent out of the Camp at Point Quartell to meet 
that which was Expected Back from the Palmetto Hut with 
the Rice, In order to prevent their being surprised, and in 
the afternoon both parties Returned to the Camp with Pro- 
visions. A Messenger arrived in the Camp from Lieut. Col. 
Cook, desiring a Party of men to assist him in Drawing the 
Howitzer, his men being weary ;| upon which Col. Vander- 
dussen sent him a party of 50 men. The General, by Let- 
ters from on board the Spence, man of-war, acquainted Col. 
Vanderdussen that he proposed to Land the next morning, 
at 4 o'clock, upon the Island Anastatia with what men he 
had there, about 200 Sailors, under the Command of Capt. 
Warren, Capt. Laws and Capt. Townshend, and the Indians; 
that he should want all the Craft he had, which he Desired 
that he would send Immediately. The General also sent 
him some Provisions, which he said that, Knowing the want 
he was in, he had obtained from the Commodore for him, 
together with 2 four Pounders, Bullets, &c, which he said 

* App. Nos. 32, 36 and 37. t App. Nos. 58 and 32. 

t App. Nos. 59 and 60. 



56 

should be mounted to drive off the Gallies ; and that If he 
carried the Island he should have an easy Communication 
with him, that he should drive out the Gallies, and all our 
( 'raft could come in and lie with safety within the Bar.* Capt. 
Warren's Sunreon came ashore in one of the Boats which 
brought those Letters, who told Col. Vanderdussen that his 
Captain had Desired him to take the Distance of the Castle 
from the utmost Point by a Compass. Accordingly the 
Colonel sent a party with him. Upon his Return he said it 
was two miles Distance from the Castle, and therefore not fit 
for a Bomb Battery. f Col. Vanderdussen wrote Back to the 
General that he had Received the 2 four pounders, but was 
obliged to drop them at High Water Mark till he should 
get purchase to put them on the Carriages, that the 
pounders (meaning those belonging to the Phcenix,) Ex- 
pected Round in the Transports, would be of little service, 
the Gallies having 9 pounders, which would keep out of 
their Reach. However that he should place them to the 
best advantage; that the 3 nine pounders on board Captain 
Townshend would be of Much more Service, and that if he 
would give orders to Land them, he would send a Boat to 
take them and the Carriages ashore, without any Trouble 
to them, and Likewise as many of the 18 pounders as might 
be thought proper to be Landed at the Point, where he 
thought they would be of more Service than anywhere else ; 
that Capt. Warren's Doctor, who had come ashore in the 
Boats, told him that the Captain Desired him to take the 
distance from the utmost Point by a Compass ; that accord- 
ingly he had sent a party with him, and that upon his 
Return he said it was 2 miles Distance from the Castle, and 
therefore not fit for a Bomb Battery ; that he could not 
apprehend which way he took his measure. However, if 
what he said Should be true, that it was Certainly the Best 
place for a Battery, in order to Command the River and 
keep the Gallies in awe, and also to Transport the Mortars 
across to any other place that might be found Necessary. 
But that they should be better Judges when Col. Cook came 

* App. No. 61. f App. No. 61. 



57 

up. On the 12th, early in the morning, Lieut. Col. Cook 
and Capt. Norbury got into the Camp at Point Quartell, 
having Left the mortar not far behind. Col. Vanderdussen, 
taking a party of the Grenadiers,* marched with them to 
the Point, where they measured the distance to St. Augus- 
tine Castle, and found it to be 1 mile and a Quarter. Then 
they Returned to the Camp. Soon after they observed the 
Castle and Gallies firing at the Party on the main, who 
were driving some Horses from under the Castle towards 
Fort Moosa. The English Flag was Seen also hoisted at 
the Lookout upon the Island Anastatia. The General 
Landed there with the forces before mentioned, which he 
had advised Col. Vanderdussen of. Three of the Gallies 
went down towards the Bar and fired upon them after they 
were Landed, but upon the men-of-war Sloops making sail 
towards the Gallies, they Retired under the Castle. The 
Indians being sent before, the Rest followed with a Six 
pounder, drawn before them towards the Lookout under the 
Castle. There was nobody upon the Island, for upon the 
arrival of the Carolina Regiment at Point Quartell the 
Spaniards had quitted it, took away the Small Guns which 
they had at the Lookout, and burnt the Plat-form on which 
they were placed. In the Evening, Lieut. Col. Cook's party 
and the Party which had been Sent out to assist, arrived 
with the Howitzer in the Camp at Point Quartell. Some 
of the Carolina Vessels got in over the Bar and anchored 
under the Island. Col. Vanderdussen got ashore 3 of the 6 
pounders belonging to the Phoenix, one of which had not 
the Carriage with it, as also Some Provisions and Stores. 
On the 18th, at Break of Day, Col. Vanderdussen ordered 
the Mortar (or Howitzer) and 2 Sixpounders to be carried 
to the other side of the Point, about a mile off. The Gen- 
eral Sent an order over for the only Boat Col. Vanderdussen 
had to bring Provisions or anything else on shore, by one 
Mr. Logy, who carried her away without Landing the Bed 
of the Mortar which was on board her. The Col. there- 
fore and Col. Cook, who took the management of the Artil- 
*App. No. 62. 



58 

lery, were obliged to place the Mortar in the Sands. The 
Carriages of the Sixpounders proved so bad that they were 
obliged to place them in the Sands also. Whilst the Bat- 
teries were making, the Gallies were busy firing at the 
General's Men upon Anastatia. At 8 o'clock, Lieut. Col. 
Cook threw a Bomb from the Mortar,* whicli broke just over 
the Castle. As the Battery was placed opposite to the angle 
of one of Bastions, it was sometime before they could bring 
any Guns to bear upon it ; at Last they threw a 24 pound 
shot, a shell was Returned, the Gallies advanced toward the 
Point. The 6 pounders were fired at them, one of which 
Shot falling across the House of the Admiral Galley and 
the other in the midst of them, they Retired under the 
Castle. A Reciprocal fire was kept up between the Bat- 
teries and the Castle the whole forenoon, but with a great 
deal of Trouble and Difficulty.f the Mortar and Guns bury- 
ing themselves with the sand every time they were fired. 
This day! Capt. McKay sent a Cannow (which had been 
found accidentally) with a Letter to Col. Yanderdussen 
from the Negro Fort, wherein he acquainted him that he 
had 8 lbs. of Bread which the General had ordered to each 
of the men there, would hold out no longer than till the 
next night ; when, If they had not some how Supply, they 
Should be obliged to 'march to Fort Diego in quest of vict- 
uals, which, perhaps, they would not find there. He begged 
him to spare them a supply of Beef and Rice until the 
General's arrival, and also to send them a Surgeon, having 
a great number sick§ with Fluxes, &c. The Col. answered 
that he had no Provisions since he came to Point Quartell 
but what he had been obliged to send his people for to the 
Hut, and that he had at present but 36G lbs. of Rice, of 
which he had sent him half a Barrel, which was all that he 
could spare. All night a Reciprocal fire was kept up be- 
tween the Castle and the Battery at Point Quartell. Lieut. 
Cadogan was sent up the River in a boat with 10 men to 
Fort Diego for the two small mortars there.l On the 14th, 

* App. No. 03. f App. No. 67. t A pp. No. 64. 

\ App. No. 65. \ App. No. 66. 



59 

in the morning, a shell was thrown from the mortar at 
Point Quartell right into the Bastion of the Castle next to 
it. Several Guns were fired from the Castle and Gallies 
both at the men at Point Quartell and on Anastatia. Col. 
Vanderdussen wrote the General the following Letter : 

Camp at Point Quartell, June, 1740. 

Sir : I wrote your Excellency word that Some of the 18 
pounders and Some of the 9 pounders would be of the most 
Service to us, and that the Boat which I had here would 
bring them ashore. I have heard nothing further since, 
but yesterday morning an order from your Excellency by 
Logy to bring her away, which was the only Boat I had to 
bring my Provisions ashore, or anything Else. I accord- 
ingly complyed with your Excellency's order, and sent the 
Boat away with some of my own men in her, and was in 
hopes that as soon as your Excellency was Landed that the 
Boat would have been sent Back to me, which I beg your 
Excellency will order to be done. We carried the Guns 
which were sent from the men-of-war, and 2 more from on 
board my schooners, down to the Point, but the Carriages 
are so very bad that we were obliged to place them in the 
Sand. However, it had the Effect that yesterday morning, 
when the Gallies were making towards us, upon firing the 
shot, the first athwart their House, the second in the middle 
of them, they got under the Castle, and have not dared to 
advance towards us since. Mr. Cadogan went Round Last 
night in a Boat with 8 of my men and 2 of Mr. Cook's, 
w r ithin musket shot of them, but they Kept where they were. 
He is gone to Fort Diego to bring the 2 small mortars that 
are there. The mortars we have been obliged to place in 
the Sand. Mr. Logy having taken away the boat that had 
the Bed on Board, without Landing of it ; So that every 
time she is fired strikes her into the Sand, which creates a 
great deal of Trouble and less Certainty, yet, notwithstand- 
ing all these Difficulties, all the Shells we have thrown (Ex- 
cepting three) have Broke in the Castle or Town, so that my 
first opinion that I gave your Excellency about this place 



60 

as being the properest Situation for a Battery, both for a 
Cannon and Bombs, is confirmed now by experience. In 
the mean time I Remain 

Your Excellency's most humble servant, 

ALEXANDER VANDERDUSSEN. 

The General wrote Col. Vanderdussen the following Letter : 

Camp Anastatia, 14th June, 1740. 

Sir : *We are Masters of the Harbour, and Can Ride Safe 
both from the Gallies, and Castle of Augustine. If you 
have a mind to send in your Craft, pray do. I would fain 
have a Communication to you directly to the Point. I 
ordered Everything you desired, and am, 

Sr, your most obedient humble servant, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

Col. Vanderdussen, seeing the Provision Schooner, the 
Pearl, Commanded by Capt. Tyrrel, and a great many other 
Vessels come within the Bar, went over in a small Canoe to 
Anastatia to Confer with the General. He found Some 18 
poundersf Landing for a Battery, to beat down the Town 
and Destroy the Gallies, 2 of which were Carried by Sailors, 
and one of them Mounted. The Distance from the Castle 
was such, being above a mile and a half, that it was found 
by Experience they could not reach it. The General told 
Col. Vanderdussen that that Battery was only in order to 
have the Guns Carried further to make a Battery in another 
place, much nearer, which place he desired him to go and 
see. Accordingly they went and found it to be upon the 
side of a marsh, about 2 miles from the Landing, and about 
a mile from the Castle. This place was approved of. They 
fired Briskly from the Castle at them, upon which they 
Returned, and Col. Vanderdussen went over to his Camp at 
Point Quartell. In the meantime, at Fort Moosa.t Capt. 
Palmer, with his own and the Georgia Rangers (for Capt. 
McKay himself never went but once), and Jones, with the 
*App. No. G8. fApp. Nos. 69. J App. Nos. 32, 36, 37. 



Gl 

Indians, made Excursions every day. Sometimes for 15 
miles Round, and had Drove up thither about 100 Horses. 
At night they used to go out and alarm the Spaniards in 
St. Augustine, and particularly on the 12th. The General's 
Colours having been seen at Anastatia, Capt. Palmer, that 
night, pursuant to his Directions, with the Rangers and 
Indians, and Capt. McKay, with some of the Highlanders, 
went out and fired upon the Town. Col. Palmer had con- 
stantly Remained with the Rangers without the Fort,* and 
from Day to Day perpetually blamed Capt. Mcintosh and 
Capt. McKay, who with the Rest still Remained within. 
He told them the Spaniards from the Castle could count 
their number almost to a man, and that they would have 
their Throats cut. They said there they had escaped.f and 
would not move, if the Enemy came they must fight. This 
Daily produced words between them. It did not appear to 
the men who had Really the chief command. The Colonel, 
Mcintosh and McKay were heard often to dispute about it, 
the 2 Latter Seemed to carry Equal Command, and to act 
alike in everything, and observed no Directions that the 
Colonel gave them. In particular he advised them to Rise 
at 4 o'clock every morning, and to stand to their Arms. 
He went himself every morning before Da}', sometimes 
Twice, into the Fort to Rouse them up. But they Little 
Regarded it. Officers and men would Still lye sleeping; 
the Colonel often fell into a passion on that account, Telling 
them that he valued his Life no more than they did, but 
they Lay like Dogs to have their Throats Cut, This pro- 
duced a great deal of Difference. He often wished himself 
away, for that he never saw such men in his Life, that he 
had no Commission to Show, and that they did not regard 
his advice in this Situation. No men being sent over by 
the General after he had Landed upon Anastatia, as he had 
promised, and not ever hearing from him, Col. Palmer said 

* Here is evidence of the injustice done Col. Palmer by those who 
affirm that, contrary to Gen. Oglethorpe's instructions, he kept within 
the Fort. 

f This probably should be " encamped." 



62 

he could not conceive what the General meant by it, that 
he Believed he had sent him there for a sacrifice, and was 
frequently heard to complain that they were left a sacrifice 
by Him.* In the Evening 8 Creek Indians marched from 
the Nation to Fort Moosa ; they Enquired for the General, 
and upon being told that he was then upon the Island 
Anastatia, asked what they did there, then whether the 
General sent these few men againsl the Strong Castle with 
those Little Guns of theirs, and said that they were just like 
Something put into a Large Mouth, Ready to be Devoured 
as soon as shut. On the 15th ,f about one in the morning, 
Some of the Rangers which had been out to burn a House 
close by the Town, but it being very Dark, could not find 
it, Returned to Fort Moosa, and Reported that they had 
heard the Spanish Indians dancing the war dance. There- 
upon Col. Palmer said they must expect a Brush before 
Day, ordered them to lie down and take a nap, and that he 
would awake them. At 3 or 4 o'clock accordingly he did, 
and almost all the Rangers got up Immediately and stood 
to their arms. Then the Col. went into the Fort and Roused 
them up, argued the Danger they were in, and advised 
them to stand to their arms. But as usual, not Regarding 
him, most of them Lay down again. This put him into a 
great Passion, and, coming out, he said they did not know 
what they Trusted to, that the Spaniards would Surely 
attack them after the Indian manner, and Repeated that 
the General had sent them there for a Sacrifice. He stood 
sometime after in the Gateway talking with Jones ; on a sudden 
one of the advanced Sentinels called out that there was a 
party of men Coming. Col. Palmer Calling out aloud, 
Stand to your arms, not a man of you fire, but Receive their 
first fire, then half of you fire and Draw Back, making 
Room for the Rest to come up, and we will Kill them Like 
dogs. Some of the Highlanders, then upon Guard in one 
of the Bastions, fired, notwithstanding. Directly the Enemy 
poured in a Large Volley, upon which the Colonel said: 
Are these the men I have to trust to ? I thought so before, 
*App. No. 37. t App. Nos. 32, 36, 37. 



G3 

and betook himself to the Ditch. The Rangers, who were 
about 12 yards without, did the same, for the Colonel had 
before Directed them in Case of an attack to do so, because 
they would be in as much Danger from the fire of the High- 
landers within the Fort as from the Enemy without. Jones 
Run into the Fort and got all the Indians together in one 
Flanker, there being a great Hurry and Confusion amongst 
the men, some being dressed and some undressed. He went 
into every Flanker three times, yet could not find Capt. 
Mcintosh, nor see anything of his Soldiers, but found Capt. 
McKay in one of them, just got up in his shirt, with a small 
sword and a musket, whom he advised to support the Gate 
with the Highlanders, but to no purpose. In the meantime 
the Enemy, attacking in Different parties, Rushed on and 
particularly Endeavored to force their way into the Fort 
through the Gate, but it was So well defended during a Con- 
stant Smart Fire on all sides for a Quarter of an hour, from 
the 2 Flankers that commanded that side and by Col. 
Palmer, who kept firing and Encouraging the men 
aloud, that they were Repulsed twice. At length they 
came on again, sword in hand, and entered the Gate, 
being led on "by an officer, whom Jones, at his Entrance, 
shot ; at the same time another party Entered one of the 
Breaches, so that the Fort was at once full of Spaniards, it 
being then about half an hour before Day. McKay imme- 
diately jumped over into the Ditch with a small sword in 
his hand, and advised all to shift for themselves. Soon 
after Mcintosh was Carried out Prisoner. They Continued 
within Sometime at Club work, Cutting and Slashing as 
fast as they could, till the Spaniards being Evidently Mas- 
ters, all that were able Jumped over on all sides into the 
Ditch and made the best of their way off, thro' the Enemy 
that surrounded the Fort, amongst which Jones, with 6 
Indians, Jumping over, was Joyned by Col. Palmer's two 
sons (the Captain and his Brother), and another of the 
Rangers, who all together firing as they marched, and open- 
ing a Passage to themselves, made their escape, Capt. Palmer, 
in particular, Killing a Spanish Indian, by the way, who 



G4 

was Just Ready to Knock Down Junes. All this time Col, 
Palmer maintained the Ditch, where he was, tho' but with 
two of the Carolina Rangers by his side. At length he was 
Shot by one within the Fort. Bleeding inwardly very 
much at the mouth, He yet Loaded his Gun, and when 
almost gone, reeling and panting, He still cried out as he 
fell : " Hurra ! my Lads, the Days our own. I have been 
in many Battles and never lost one yet." Thereupon those 
2 men, being the Last, quitted the Trench and Escaped 
through the Enemy, with many wounds, to the River side, 
opposite to Point Quartell, being about a mile and a half 
from the Fort, There almost all that had Escaped, except 
a few that could swim over, Remained at a stand. The 
Spaniards, as it pleased God, did not pursue their Victory, 
but marched Back to the Castle in Great Triumph, with 
the Prisoners and Colours that they had taken in the Fort, 
wearing in their hats the ears and private parts of the slain.* 
In this action about 50 whites and Indians of the General's 
party were Killed, and upwards of 20 taken, amongst which 
not one Carolinian besides Col. Palmer himself. The party 
which attacked them consisted, according to the Least ac- 
count given by Deserters afterwards, of 300 men, chiefly 
Forsadoes, Convict Negroes, and Indians, But by the ac- 
count which seems to be the best, of 450 men, of which at 
Least as many were Killed as of ours, with the 2 Principal 
officers, one of which was Commodore of the Gallies, and 
about as many wounded. About an hour after day Break 
Lieut. Cadogan, who had been to Fort Diego for two mor- 
tars there, coming down the River, and seeing those who 
had escaped by the water side waving to him, went and 
took into his Boat as many of them as he could, and a Boat 
which Col. Vanderdussen sent over as soon as the first that 
had escaped had swam over to him, took in the Rest. The 
Gallies perceiving these Boats bringing over the People 
moved up the River to intercept their Landing, But some 
shot being fired at them, both from Point Quartell and 
Anastasia, they Retired under the Castle, and the People 
* App. Nos. 32 and 37. 



65 

Landed at Point Quartell. Col. Vanderdussen sent an Ex- 
press Immediately to Fort Diego to acquaint them with 
what had happened that they might be upon their guard, 
lest the Spaniards should surprise them. He sent also an 
account of the affair over to the General upon Anastatia, 
Soon after which Lieut. Col. Cook himself went over to Talk 
with the General. The Remaining part of that Day every- 
thing Rested Quiet on all sides, and in the afternoon Col. 
Vanderdussen moved his Camp up to the utmost Point, 
close by a Battery, Judging it more Proper in Case the 
Spaniards should think fit to make him a visit. In the 
night the Regiment was got under arms upon hearing an 
alarm in the General's Camp at Anastatia. On ICth the 
General wrote the following Letter to Lieut. -Governour Bull : 

Camp Besieging St. Augustine, 16th June, 1740. 
*Sir : God has been pleased to Bless u.s with great success, 
Excpting one unfortunate action. Besides taking Fort 
Diego we have took the Island St. Anastatia and the Har- 
bour of St. Augustine, but Col. Palmer and his Volunteers, 
and the Georgia Rangers, with a party of the Highlanders 
and Indians, being Left to alarm the Spaniards on the Land 
side, were surprised by them. We hear that Col. Palmer 
and Capt. Mcintosh are either Killed or Prisoners. All the 
Regiment was with me and is safe, so is Col. Vanderdussen 
and all the Carolina Regiment. In all other things we 
have been successful. The Spaniards having fired a great 
number of Cannon and not so much as hit a man. We 
hope soon to make them pay Dear for the Last action, But 
wish for more men, the men-of-war being sooii obliged to 
Leave us, and we cannot Besiege the Town by Land and 
water with so small a force. Capt. Bull is well. 
I am Sr., your most obedient Humble Servant, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

In the Morning the mortar being fixed upon the Bed ;it 
Point Quartell, Col. Vanderdussen having Brought it over 

* App. No. 70. 

5 



66 

from Anastatia, was played again, and Several Shells thrown 
into the Town, and one into the Castle. The Spaniards 
fired but 3 or 4 Guns. Soon after Col. Vanderdussen went 
over with Lieut. Col. Cook to the Island: he found things 
in a good Deal of Distraction. Resolutions taken and not 
put in Execution, and the Battery in no sort of forwardness, 
one Gun was carried down and the other Left in the Mud, the 
Sea men were complaining and saying they would do no 
more, Capt. Warren was very uneasy, and complaining that 
the General was come there without Provisions, ammuni- 
tion or anything else but what he had from them, and 
threatened to go on board with all his men if things were 
not altered. Col. Vanderdussen made things as Easy be- 
twixt the General and ( 'apt. Warren as he could, and begged 
Capt. Warren to make all the Haste he could to Finish the 
Battery, that being the only thing to keep the ({allies in 
awe, and if they were not Destroyed by the Battery, he 
offered, if the men-of-war would lend him their Boats, to go 
himself in the Night time and Destroy them: this was 
agreed to,* and Cant. Warren offered to join him. Col. 
Vanderdussen Received from the General the following 
orders : 

fSiR : You are with the< arolina Regiment to come over 
to this Island, leaving such a Guard out of them as you 
shall think Sufficient for the Defence of the Battery, Can- 
nons and Mortars ; also send all your craft into this River, 
with Necessary Provisions for the Men, and all other things 
for the Service, which yon can Speedily get on Board. 
Make the utmost Expedition, for these orders are the 
Result of a Conference held with the Commodore and offi- 
cers of the men-of-war. 

I am Sr., your very Humble Servant, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

* So far from Col. Vanderdussen and his men being ".turbulent and 
disobedient," above is one of several instances when Col. V. promoted 
harmony ; and when his plans for action were thwarted by sonic order 
from Gen. O. 

t A pp. No. 72. 



G7 

Col. Vanderdussen and Lieut. Col. Cook Returned to the 
Camp at Point Quartell, and at night threw Several Shells. 
Some Shot were also Exchanged this Day between the Bat- 
tery and Anastatia and the Castle and Gallies. On the 17th, 
in the morning, Col. Vanderdussen himself fearing if the 
orders which he had Received from the General were put 
in Execution, that the Party which he was to Leave behind 
him at the Point might be Served as that Party at Moosa 
had been, Summoned all his officers together, and Laying 
before them the General's orders, desired their opinions ; 
thereupon, accordingly, they Delivered the same to him in 
Writing, as follows : 

Sir : We having perused the orders of his Excellency 
General Oglethorpe, which you were pleased to Communi- 
cate to us, are unanimously of opinion (for the following- 
reasons) that the result of them may be of very Dangerous 
Consequence to the welfare of your Honour's Regiment, 
and the success of the Expedition, and that the whole ought 
to go over or Stay together : 1st. For that the Dividing 
the Regiment into Small parties and Leaving Such Parties in 
Posts where they were every Hour in Danger of being cut off 
by the Enemy, obliges the whole of them to be Continually 
upon Guard, which will so weaken the men that in Case of 
an attack they will hardly be able to stand Even an Equal 
Number of Fresh men, and we have already experienced 
too fatally the 111 consequence of it. 2dly. For that in Case 
an attack should be made on the Party proposed to be Left 
here by the Gallies Landing a Number of Men, our Battery 
(as it is called) can be of no use to prevent such Landing, 
for as we have but one Gun Mounted, and even that one 
after every Shot will take near a Quarter of an Hour to be 
replaced for want of a Platform, the Gallies may with ease 
pass it, Especially as we have not one that knows how to 
level a Gun. 3dly. For that there are here now a great 
Number of Sick and wounded who will Require a Guard 
to defend them, which will still weaken a Small party, and 
to leave them without it would be too cruel and quite in- 



68 

human. 4th ly. Fur that in Case of a Defeat every man 
must Expecl to be murdered, having no place to Retreat to, 
which the Enemy will always have in the ( rallies, and in 

Such Case the Mortar and (inns infallibly fall to the Span- 
iards, who afterwards will Certainly use them against the 
party on the Island of Anastatia, a Consequence that Re- 
quires the utmost Care to avoid. 5thly. Forthat if the Gen- 
eral withdraw his own Soldiers from us, we think it as 
Reasonable to have this Regiment together. 6thly. For 
that if Augustine is to be attacked on the Matansas side, we 
cannot Conceive of what Loss the defending this Point can 
possibly be, especially when we consider that it may require 
the whole Force to attempt them on the other side. 

Signed by the Lieut, Colonel, Major and 
all the Captains and Lieutenants of the Regiment. 

Col. Vanderdussen went over to Anastatia and communi- 
cated the same* to the General, who thereupon said: "Then 
they Refused to obey orders. "t " No, Sir," said the Colonel, 
"this is only their opinion, But if your Excellency still 
orders me to do it, I will bring them over,"! upon which it 
was Dropped. The Colonel found everything at a stand as 
before, without anything being forwarded. Capt. Warren 
told the General that he would not Step further without an 
order from the Commodore, or having him upon the Spot. 
Upon this Col. Vanderdussen taking the Commodore's 
Barge went off to him, and persuaded him to come ashore 
with him to Settle Matters. At their Landing they went to 
Capt. Warren's Tent, where the General Joined them; orders 
were given for every one to withdraw except the General, 
the Commodore, Col. Vanderdussen, Capl Warren and Capt. 
Laws. Then the General asked the Commodore what was 
to be done in the Present Situation of affairs, as they had 

* App. No. 25. 

f This was but a respectful expression 'if opinion invited by Col. 

Vanderdussen. The affair at Moosa was fresh in (heir recollection. 
But against their opinion, they were ready to obey orders. 
t App. No. 71. 



69 

declared that they would stay no Longer than the 5th of 
next month, nor so Long in Case Easterly winds Set in 
Sooner. The Commodore made answer that that was not 
in his Sphere, being the Peculiar Business of the General to 
Direct, But that During his Stay he would give all the 
assistance he could Spare out of his Majesty's Ships. Then 
the General asked Col. Vanderdussen the same Question, 
who answered* that he would give his opinion, and that 
afterwards he might do as he thought proper. That it was 
his opinion, first — That the Battery designed upon that 
Island nearest to the Town Should be Raised with all Pos- 
sible Expedition, in order to Destroy the Gallies. or at least 
to drive them under the Castle — That if any of the Gallies 
should Escape they should be attacked by the Men-of-War's 
Boats in the manner he had before proposed — That Lieut. 
Col. Cook should come over to the Island in order to place 
the Mortars in a proper Situation where they should do the 
greatest Damage — That one-half of the forces and all the 
Indians should be sent over to Fort Moosa, in order to keep 
the Enemy in on that Side where they could have a Com- 
munication with the Rest, and be Supplied with Provisions 
and other necessaries — That it was of the Utmost Conse- 
quence to carry the Indians there, because they were threat- 
ening to Leave the General, having had the Insolence to 
tell him to his face that he was afraid of the Spaniards, and 
therefore kept upon an Island, and also the Party of the 
Creek Indians that were coming down would Certainly 
Return if they did not find some of our people upon the 
Main ; as a Small party of them would Certainly have done 
already if they had not accidentally met with some of our 
people at Fort Diego, who persuaded them to come forward. 
That after all this was put in Execution, a Day should be 
agreed upon by a Signal for the Forces upon the Island to 
be carried down to the South end of the Town, and those 
upon the Main at the North end to attack the Town at the 



*Here the General and the Commodore are at variance, and again 
Col. Vanderdussen makes propositions to which they both agree. 



70 

same time, sword in hand.* This was agreed to, and that 
the General should go over to the Main with his troops, and 
the Indians, and that Colonel Vanderdussen should come 
over to the Island and take the Command there, in Conse- 
quence of which the General ordered him to Bring his 
whole Regiment over from Point Quartell to Anastatia. 
The Colonel returned to his Camp. Very few Guns were 
fired this Day on either Side. In the Night the Camp at 
Point Quartell was alarmed by the Sound of Boats Rowing 
on the Water, and all were got under arms, but nothing 
further ensued. On the 18th one of the Companies of the 
Carolina Regiment Embarked at Point Quartell and went 
over to Anastatia. Few Guns were fired this day on either 
Side. Col. Vanderdussenf went over with Lieut. Col. Cook 
to the Island, and found everything as before, without the 
Battery being in any forwardness ; the Reason they gave 
for that was a great Rain that had fallen the Night before. 
He went to the General and asked him whether he had 
altered his mind, seeing nothing was forwarded according 
to agreement ; that the time was So Short that if they 
attempted anything it must be Done in a few Days, for the 
Men-of-War would Stay no Longer than the 5th of the Next 
Month. The General told him he was making all the Haste 
he could to get over, but could not till he had first Sent 
Provisions before him. The Colonel told him that he might 
that very night send over Provisions, they being on board 
the Sloop (on which he had Brought them) Ready to De- 
liver, and the next day go over himself with the Men. The 
General Replied that he had no Boats ; the Colonel said 
that he would carry them over for him, and accordingly 
Sent two Boats for the Provisions, which Carried them up 
to the Point, In the Evening he Returned to his Camp at 
Point Quartell, Leaving Lieut. Col. Cook with the General, 
who ordered him to stay there that he might that night 
Settle Matters with him. On the 19th the Colonel went 
over to the Island with his own Company, and Returned 
again; the Volunteers went over also. In the Evening the 
* A pp. No. 75. f .\pp. No. 75. 



71 

great Carolina Mortar, at the Lower Battery upon Anastatia, 
was fired, and also the mortar at Point Quartell, and at 
night a great number of Cohorns were fired, at the advanced 
Battery; some of the Shells broke over the Gallies, and 
some fell Short. On the 20th, in the morning, two Desert- 
ers from the Gallies, an Englishman and a Dutchman, came 
to the camp upon Anastatia, who gave Information that the 
Spaniards, Imagining there were but 200 men upon that 
Island, and 200 men upon Point Quartell, intended, the 
Night before, to have Landed 500 men on Anastatia. But 
that upon the Cohorns being fired the Gallies Retired under 
the Castle.* That it was 300 Forsadoes and Negroes that 
Surprised the Party at Fort Moosa — that they Lost the officer 
that Commanded them, and as many of their men were 
killed as of ours — that they took about 20 Prisoners, but that 
the Spaniards themselves would not Venture out, only upon 
that piece of Success had plucked up some Heart ;f and that 
a Great many would Desert if they could find an opportu- 
nity. That Capt. Mcintosh was not so much as wounded, 
and that one of the Indians taken with him was to be Burnt, 
In the afternoon! the General wrote a Letter to the Gover- 
nour of St. Augustine, demanding the Castle, and at same 
time Let him know that if he used any of the Prisoners ill 
he would take Satisfaction of the Spanish Prisoners he had. 
An Officer with a Flag of Truce and a Drum having gone 
down to the River side, opposite to the Castle, and beat a 
Parley, a Boat came across with the Like flag, and Receiv- 
ing the Letter w T ent Back, and in a Short time Returned 
with a message that an answer should be given the next 
morning at 8 o'clock. No Guns were fired this Day on 
either side. 

|| A Schooner from Frederica arrived in St. Augustine har- 
bour (under Convoy of Capt. Logie in a small Sloop of the 
General's), with the Plank intended for the Platforms, 250 
Shells and 116 Barrels of Gunpowder, Viz: 100 Barrels out 
of the Store Ships from England (which the General had 



*App. No. 7(i. t App. No. -,. 

% App. No. 78. I! App. No. 79. 



72 

Left al Frederica when he set out from thence), and 16 bar- 
rels more taken in by the way at St. Andrew's. This was 
the first Powder thai the General had out of that Ship. He 
had sent Back the above Schooner about a Month ago from 
St. John's to Frederica, with an order to Capt. Colebatch, 
the master of the Stoic Ship, for Several Stores, amongst 
which there was to be 50 barrels of Powder, but when she 
Returned to St. John's, the 27th May, without the article, 
the General being then at Fort Diego, his Secretary, who 
was then on the Spot, said that the General had mentioned 
50 barrels of Powder, hat that by some mistake or other it 
was not in the order. Lieut. Col. Cook being present Dis- 
patched back the Schooner again the same Day with orders 
for the Powder, &c, now Brought. Another Company of 
the Carolina Regiment was carried over from Point Quar- 
tell to Anastatia, and in the Evening a few of the General's 
Men were sent over from the Island to the Point Hitherto 
.there was moulded* at the two Batteries (as they w r ere called) 
on Anastatia only 2 Eighteen pounders, and 1 Large Mor- 
tar at the Lower Battery where the Seamen were, and 1 
Eighteen pounder with some Cohorns at the advanced or 
upper Battery place. Half way between the two Batteries 
Lay another 18 pounder buried in the Mud. This Eveningf 
Capt. Wright, with the Volunteers and their negroes, went 
to work upon the advanced Battery, who did more this one 
Night than had been done ever since the force had been 
upon the Island. In the Night, upon an alarm that some 
Spaniards were Landing at the Point of Marsh opposite the 
Castle, Col. Vanderdussen got his Regiment under arms, 
without Peat of Drum, and Marched down thither, X but 
found it to be a false alarm On the 21st, in the morning, 
Col. Vanderdussen Relieved all the General's Guards that 
they might Embark lor the Main. The Boat Expected with 
the Governour of Augustine's answer to the General came 
over with a message that his answer Should be sent in the 
afternoon.|| In the afternoon the < Jovernour's Answer came. 



A|.|>. No. 80. f App. Nos. SI, Il>, 28. 

| App. No. s|. || App. No. SI. 



16 

He Swore by the Holy Cross that lie would Defend the 
Castle to the Last drop of his Blood,* and hoped soon to kiss 
his Excellency's hands there : with Respect to the Prisoners 
that he treated all with Humanity, as he Desired that his 
People might be treated. It seems above two-thirds of the 
people were for Surrendering* on Condition that they should 
be permitted to go to the Havanna. But the Governour 
and the Bishop, who had conic at the Knowledge of the Time 
that our men-of-war Designed to stay, would not come into 
it. The firing was Renewed on Both sides, and several 
Shells thrown as well as Cannon fired from the Battery. 

The Commodore came ashore,| who, with the Captains on 
shore, Warren, Laws, and Townshcnd, went to Col. Vander- 
dussen's Tent and sent for Col. Cook : they conferred 
together about what was to be done, all of them agreed that 
the General's stay there Retarded instead of forwarding the 
affair, and wished him gone to the other side, when they 
would carry it on with vigour, and for that purpose the rest 
of the Artillery should be landed and mounted with all 
expedition. In the night the men were got under arms on 
Anastatia, upon a false alarm. On the 22nd the advanced 
Battery || being raised with a Breastwork of Sand Bags by 
the Volunteers and their Negroes, and having now 4 Eigh- 
teen pounders Mounted and 2 mortars on a platform, began 
to play early upon the Castle and Gallics Lying before the 
Town, which Returned the fire Briskly. However, the Gal- 
lies were soon obliged to move further down, by that means 
Raking the Trench which lay open to them at one end, 
§ who Died soon after. At Noon the fire ceased, 

and another Breastwork was thrown up to cover that end, 
and a 9 pounder mounted to annoy the Gallies. At 3 
o'clock the fire was Renewed Briskly on both sides and 
Lasted till Evening. Another Company of the Carolina 
Regiment was ordered over by Col. Vanderdussen from 
Point Quartell to Anastatia, and some of the General's men 
passed over to that Point. In the nighl there was another 
false alarm at Anastatia. On the 23rd the General sent 

* App. No. 25. f A.pp. No. 25. ; A.pp. No. si. 

|| App. Nos. 28 and 42. \ Something omitted here. 



71 

more of his men over to Point Quartell, and Col. Vander- 
dusscn ordered Lieut. Col. Lejeau to come over from thence 
to Anastatia with t lie Remainder of his Regiment. Accord- 
ingly in the evening he did, Leaving only a few, which the 
Boats could not Receive, to come over the next morning. 
On the 24th,* before Day, some of the Chickasaw Indians 
who had swan, across the River and Killed a Spanish Indian 
near the Town, came dancing and Singing the Death Hop, 
according to their custom, to the General's Tent to present 
him with the head. The General Refused to accept it, 
called them Barbarous Dogs, and with much anger bid them 
begone, thereupon they went away very much Disgusted, 
Saying that if they had Carried the Head of an English- 
man to the French they Should not have been treated in 
that manner, and Squirrel King said that if he had carried 
one of our heads to the Governour of St. Augustine he 
should have been used by him Like a man, as he had been 
now used by the General like a Dog. Those Indians, it 
seems,f as well as some of the others that were upon Ana- 
statia, had before offered the General, if he would permit 
them, to Cross the River and burn the Town, But he refused 
Leave, saying the Houses would be useful to us. Many 
Shells were thrown and Guns fired this Day on Both Sides.J 
The General appeared not inclineable to attack the Enemy 
upon the Land side without more Troops. He wrote the 
following Letter to our Lieut. Governour :|| 

Prom the Camp before Augustine, 

24th June, 1740. 

Sir : §We have had a Small Loss at Moosa, as I men- 

* App. Nos 28, 37, 42. f App. Nos. 28 and 86. 

X App. No. 82. || App. No. 83. 

\ This letter furnishes ample refutation of the accusation, which must 
be described as slanderous, against ("apt. Bull, viz: that he " deserted 
his post when on duty and made his flight privately, carrying off four 
men with him and escaped to Charlestovvn." Certainly a deserter could 
not have been assigned the honorable post of bearer of despatches, and 
referee for further information. One misrepresentation so serious as 
this should bring into question the whole of any history which 
adopts it. 



75 

tioned in my last. We summoned the Town, to which the 
Governour, Bishop and Council of War gave a modest answer, 
that they were Resolved to make a Defense. The Gallies 
are the most troublesome things we meet with, who if 
Walker's Schooner were here may easily be Restrained. I 
have Desired Capt. Bull to carry you these advices, and to 
solicit for more Men and Walker's Schooner. If there are 
more to be Raised at the Northward, Mr. Holzendorf, of 
Purysburgh, has a very good interest, and is very Proper to 
be Employed. 

I am Sr., your most obedient humble Servant, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

Refer you to Capt. Bull for a full account. 

In the Evening* the General having sent over all his 
Regiment to Point Quartell before him, went over himself, 
also Leaving Lieut. Col. Cook with 3 or 4 of his servants 
only in Charge of the Artilleryf with the Carolina Regiment, 
upon Anastatia. The Chickasaw Indians Refused to go 
over with the General, and said they would go home if they 
did go over, and it was 2 or 3 Days before they could be 
persuaded to go over to him. On the 25th, in the morning, 
the Battery on Anastatia began to play upon the Castle 
again. A Reciprocal fire was Kept up till Noon, and in the 
Evening began again. This Day J Col. Yanderdussen again || 
proposed to the Gentlemen of the Sea Service on Shore, an 
attack upon the Gallies. But many Difficulties were started. 
The Colonel offered to undertake it if they would send him 
their Boats and some of their Men. This they would not 
come into. Then he proposed to Capt. Tyrrel (who had 
offered his service), they should Command the attack them- 
selves. Agreed to. Capt. Warren going on board the Com- 
modore Disapproved of it, and said he was Surprised that a 
thing of such consequence should be agreed upon without 

* App. No. 25. f App. No. 42. | App. No. 84. 

|j Notice is again directed to a proposition from Col. Yanderdussen as to 
which, as usual, " difficulties were started," and when they were an- 
swered, yet again " new difficulties were started," and finally the Com- 
modore pronounces it " too hazardous," and declines further assistance. 



76 

his Knowledge. Upon thisCapt. Warren Returning ashore, 
Col. Vanderdussen went with him on board the Commo- 
dore, and having argued the necessity of attacking the 
Gallies, and that the Difficulty was not so great as they 
Imagined, it was again agreed that it should be put in Ex- 
ecution, and that the Commodore's Lieutenant (Mr. Swan- 
ton) should go ashore and take upon him the Command of 
the attack, bu1 when the Gentlemen came on shore new 
Difficulties were again started. Capt, Warren desired Col. 
Vanderdussen to acquaint the Commodore what assistance 
he could give, which he did by him in a Letter, as follows : 

('ami' qpon Anastati a, 25th June, 1740. 

Sir: Captain Warren told me it would be proper to 
acquaint you what Imbarkation and forces I proposed to 
assist you with for Destroying these Gallies, therefore have 
sent you an account of the same, which is 2 Boats of 10 oars, 
1 of 14, 2 of 8, and )! of 6 oars, in all, eight, besides several 
Cannons of a smaller size, on Board of which I shall put 
100 men that are lit for that purpose, with proper officers to 
command them. I shall line all the sides of the River by 
the Rest of my Regiment, and as the Channel Runs close 
under this shore, they will be covered by us. I went along 
the River side Last night and saw the Situation of the Gal- 
lies, and therefore am very certain it must be attended with 
success, and with as Little danger as anything of that nature 
Possibly can be. 

1 am Sr., your Honor's most Humble Servant, 

A LEXANDER VANDERDUSSEN. 

The Commodore answered the Colonel as follows : 

Flamborough, off the Bar of Augustine, 

25th June, 1740: 

Sir : *I have the favour of yours by Capt. Warren, and 
shall be glad to do anything in my power to Effect what 
you propose, But as the Case is, I am afraid the affair is too 
*App. No. 86. 



77 

Hazardous for us to Undertake, as you will perceive by the 
Resolutions of the Council of War yesterday, which I have 
Desired Capt. Warren to Communicate to you. I have sent 
by him a List of the Boats belonging to us, and the number 
of men they ought to carry to be fit for action, and by that 
I Believe you will think the Strength we can muster between 
us will not be able to cany the Project proposed into Execu- 
tion with any hopes of Success. However, to shew my 
Inclination for li is Majesty's Service on this occasion, I am 
ready to Leave it to the Mature Deliberation of the Gentle- 
men of our Own Service and Yours on shore. But as a 
Failure of such an attempt must be of the worst conse- 
quences, both to the Ships and your Troops, and the Colony 
of Carolina, who is chiefly Interested in this undertaking, 
I hope your and their prudence will Lead you to Undertake 
Nothing but where there is a possibility of Success. This, 
under the Circumstances we are in in Regard to the Differ- 
ence of our Force and theirs, and passing so near, as I am 
informed by the Pilots, to the fire of their Cannon and Mus- 
ketry from the Castle and Town before they can come at the 
Gallies, makes the success so Doubtful as requires Mature 
Consideration before it is put in Execution. Our Ships, 
from the assistance given, are so Reduced as to Men that 
they are Incapable of the service Ships of War are intended 
for. 

I am Sr., your most Humble Servant, 

VINCENT PEARSE. 

In the night the Camp upon Anastatia was alarmed again. 
On the 26th the Batteries, both on Anastatia and Poinl 
Quartell, Kept up a tire upon the Town and Castle.* A con- 
ference was held at Col. Vanderdussen's Tent upon the 
Commodore's Letter of the Day before, where was Presenl 
besides himself, Lieut. Col. Cook, Capt. Warren. Capt. Laws, 
and Capt. Townshend, wherein it was agreed that the dal- 
lies should be attacked with the Boats, provided there was 
water Enough in the Swash opposite the Castle for the Boats 

* A pp. No. 87. 



78 

to pass. In the afternoon Capt. WarreD went on board the 
Commodore with the said Resolution, where a Council of 
War having been held, the Commodore Communicated the 
Result thereof to Col. Vanderdussen by the following Letter: 

Flamborougii, off tin: Bab of Augustine, 

26th June, 1740. 

*Sir : Under the present I )iflieulties it is thought imprac- 
ticable to attack the Gallies as proposed, with which I have 
acquainted the General by Letters of this Date.f 
I am Sr., your most Humble Servant, 

VINCENT PEARSE. 

The same day the Commodore made a signal for Captain 
Fanshaw to Leave the Matansas Inlet and to Join him. 
The General having passed over in the Boat from Point 
Quartell to the main, in the Evening made a signal for the 
forces upon Anastatia to Know it. JOn the 27th, between 
one and two in the morning, Capt. Tyrrel (having a small 
party sent down by Col. Vanderdussen to the water side to 
prevent its being Surprised by an Enemy that might be 
Lurking on the shore), went in a Boat and Sounded between 
the Point and the Keys opposite to the Castle. He found 4 
feet water upon the North and feet water upon the South 
end at half flood. || In the morning the Cannon and Bombs 
played as usual. Col. Vanderdussen having Received this 
morning the Commodore's Letter of the Day before, went 
on board to him with Capt. Warren, who brought it. Then 
all the Seven Captains of his Majesty's Ships were present 
together, amongst whom was Capt. Fanshaw, Just come up 
from the Matansas, who said that he had seen lying at the 
Musquitoes a Large Sloop, 2 Schooners and some Launches. 
These were the same vessels that the two Deserters from St. 
Augustine had before given Information were coming there 
from Havanna with Provisions. The wind setting in East- 
erly, they told Col. Vanderdussen that they should be 
obliged to slip their Cables, and could give him no further 
A l-p. No. 88. f A pp. No. 89. J App. No. 90. fApp. No. 91. 



79 

assistance. Upon this the Colonel went Down and wrote 
the following Letter, which he sent to the Commodore : 

"27th June, 1740. 
Sir : I received the Honour of yours of the 25th instant, 
wherein you recommended the Consideration of an attack 
upon the Gal lies to the Gentlemen of your service and ours 
ashore, upon which we had a conference in my Tent, where 
were present Capt. Warren, Capt-. Laws and Capt. Townshend, 
Col. Cook and myself, and it was agreed that we should 
attack the Gallies with our Boats, provided there was water 
enough in the Swash for our Boats to pass, which said Reso- 
lution was sent on board to you. I have since been In- 
formed by Capt. Tyrrel, who since went to Sound at halt 
tide last night, that there was 4 foot water upon the North 
side and 6 upon the South of said Swash, which is Enough 
for any of the Boats that are to be Employed in the said 
service to pass. I have this morning Received the Honour 
of yours, Dated the 2Gth, wherein you tell me that the 
Resolution of a Council of War on board of you was, That 
under the present Circumstances it was thought Impracti- 
cable to attack the Gallies, as was proposed, but the Reasons 
of those New Difficulties have not been Communicated to 
me. I must, therefore, take the Liberty to acquaint you 
that I would never have proposed an attack upon the Gal- 
lies by Boats, and to round under the Castle, if the thing- 
had not appeared to me and all other persons that had an 
opportunity to see the place and Situation of the Gallies, to 
be Practicable and attended with all Probability of Success, 
and with as Little Danger as things of that nature are Lia- 
ble to. However, I must Leave this to your consideration ; 
you are now to Consider the Situation we shall be left in 
when the time comes that you are to go. I shall be Left 
upon a Large Island where the Enemy can Land upon us 
from all parts, if those Gallies arc Left in their possession, 
and they may cut off all Communication betwixt me and 
the General. If a North East wind blows, all our ( 'raft must 
go ashore, and is Liable to be attacked by them, my Force 
not being sufficient to defend both ends of the Island. If I 



80 

send my Crafl Round to the Matansas, which is the only 
and best place, I must follow with all my forces, in order to 
Defend myself and them, and so Leave this side open to 
the Enemy, and the Bar to any Embarkations either to go'in 
or out, and it is Impossible to me to Transport the Artillery, 
which must tall a prey t<> the Enemy. Bui must Leave 
this also to your Considt ration. Ymi arc too well acquainted 
with tin- fatal consequences that must follow from our being 
Defeated, upon the Province of South Carolina, and there- 
fore needless for me to Repeat. I shall only give my opin- 
ion in Duty to my country and those under my command 
who must he left behind, if the Gallies are not to he attacked, 
as Supposed Impracticable, according to your Last Resolu- 
tion. I should think that the only way Left at Present 
(and you will be a Judge whether it may be put in Execu- 
tion) is that one or both of his Majesty's sloops might be 
Lightened and go in over the Bar of Matansas, which will 
secure that side, and I think myself Strong Enough to De- 
fend this. The Genera] with his Forces upon their Back 
will Keep them in a Close Blockade, and must soon Reduce 
them to Surrender. Hut suppose they should hold out 
Longer than might be Reasonably Expected, yet we shall 
hinder all Communications, and may send to Carolina for a 
greater Supply of men and other necessaries, or from any 
of the neigbouring Colonies. 

I am Sr., your most humble Servant, 

ALEXANDER VANDERDUSSEN. 

This having been considered by them in Council, the 
Commodore Communicated to Col. Vanderdussen the fol- 
lowing Resolutions:* It isResolvedby the Council that the 
Men-of-War Scoops shall, if Possible, be got into the Ma- 
tansas, well manned and Armed, for the Protection of the 
Forces Left on the Island of St. Anastatia, and this is all 
the assistance ('an be given from his Majesty's Ship. 

Dated on board Ins Majesty's ship Plamborough, off the 
Bar of Augustine, this 27th June, 1740. 

VINCENT TLARSE. 

* A pp. No. 93. 



81 

The wind increasing, Col. Vanderdussen got into a Small 
Boat and went on Shore, and the Men-of-War Slipt their 
Cables and Stood out to Sea. Several of the Volunteers* 
embarked in order to Return home. This Day f the General 
marched to Fort Moosa, where he found Several Graves and 
30 Dead Bodies of his people, which he Buried all night. 
The wind Blew very hard at North East, which brought 
into the Harbour a great Sea and drove up Several Boats 
ashore upon the Island a good way above high water mark .J 
But the Vessels all rid it out. || I acquainted you with the 
taking the Island Anastatia ; the Seamen Blocked the 
Town on that side ; Col. Vanderdussen on Point Quartell ; 
and Col. Palmer, with the Highlanders, Indians and Georgia 
Rangers, on the main Land, who disobeyed my orders, 
locked themselves up in the Fort at Moosa : they were Sur- 
rounded and cut off, but the Defeat was not so great as at 
first Reported. Col. Palmer is Killed and 20 Highlanders, 
fighting bravely for their Country, and Several Indians and 
some others ; and 27 were taken Prisoners, and all the Rest 
are Safe in the Camp. This giving the Spaniards the Com- 
mand of the Country, and Rendering the Bombarding of 
the Town of Little Service, the Inhabitants Saving them- 
selves in the Country, and fetched in Cattle, &c. I with 
great difficulty landed on the main, buried the Dead with 
Soldierly Honours, and Marched to St. Augustine, and all 
the Spaniards have again forsaken the Country and retired 
into the Fort and place which has been, and will be, Se- 
verely Battered by our Bombs and cannon. I give this 
account at Large that you may not be moved with false 
Stories set about by Cowards who run away. 

I am your affectionate Friend, &c, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

* Thus it appears that another party of Volunteers embarked for 
home, because the departure of the men-of-war was conclusive that the 
object for which they came, viz : a sudden and vigorous attempt by sea 
and land, had failed. 

t App. No. 55. % App. No. 98. 

|| " I acquainted " seems to be the beginning of a letter — but to whom 
does not appear. 
6 



82 

He wrote also to the Magistrates and Bailiffs of Frederica 
thus : *On the 28th the General having advanced some dis- 
tance towards St. Augustine, where he Pitched his Camp 
in the middle of a marsh on the side of St. James River, 
Sent his aid de camp over to Anastatia to Col. Vanderdussen 
to know the Reason why the Gallies had not heen attacked, 
as agreed on. The Colonel, by Letter, acquainted the Gen- 
eral with everything that had passed Relating thereto, and 
added, They (the men-of-war) are now out at Sea. I am in 
great Hopes if they should stay out a few Days to make an 
attempt upon the Gallk^s with the assistance of their men 
which they had Left ashore. Mr. Swanton, who was Left 
the command of them, seems not to want fire, and I hope 
therefore, to make the thing do with him before the Return 
of the Ships, and for that purpose desire you will send my 
Boat as soon as Possible that being the principal Boat for 
that affair, theirs being all gone. If I succeed in bringing 
them into it I shall acquaint your Excellency what time it . 
is to be put in Execution ; and in the meantime am ready 
to obey any Commands from your Excellency, and am your 
Excellency's most Humble Servant, 

ALEXANDER VANDERDUSSEN. 

But when the Colonel fproposed the same to Lieutenant 
Swanton he was told by him that he had orders not to 
Venture any of the Seamen till the Return of the Ships!;}; 
On the 29th there was a Reciprocal Fire between the Bat- 
teries and Castle. The Boats which had been drove ashore 
and damaged, were got off again. ||Col. Vanderdussen hav- 
ing been to the South side of the Island and found a fine 
Bluff, opposite to the Mouth of the River St. Sebastian (which 
Runs up to the back of St. Augustine), with a House and 
Plantation thereon, where, it Seems, the Spaniards from the 
Gallies kept watch at night, went again there in the after- 
noon with Lieut. Col. Cook, both agreeing that this was a 



* App. No. 55. f App. No. 95. 

+ Col. Vanderdussen's plan again too venturesome. 
|| App. No. 96. 



83 

proper place for a Battery, to keep the dallies or any other 
vessel from going in or out, and also to hinder the Gallies 
from going up the River St. Sebastian, by which means 
they would not be able to get away from our Cannon. They 
Resolved, if the Men-of-War should not Return, to Make a 
Battery there as Soon as Possible, which would answer the 
end proposed, by having the two Men-of-War Sloops Sent 
in within the Matansas. On the 30th there was a Reciprocal 
fire again between the Batteries and the Castle. The Boats 
were Repaired. A New England man belonging to Col. 
Vanderdussen's own Company Deserted and went over to 
the Spaniards. The General wrote the following Letter to 
our Lieut. Governour : 

Camp before St. Augustine, 30th June, 1740. 
Sir : I have Recovered Moosa,* buried the dead and drove 
the Spaniards into St. Augustine. I wrote you by Capt. 
Bull, who is well, and goes by Sea. We greatly want an 
assistance of men. Mallachi and Chigilli, with all the lower 
Creeks, have declared for us, and some of them have been 
down. More are Expected every Day at Pupa. 

I am Sr., your most obedient Humble Servant, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

The General wrote also to Col. Vanderdussen the follow- 
ing Letter : 

Camp before St. Augustine, 30th June, 1740. 
|SiR : I wish you Success in your attempt, therefore send 
you Belsey's Boat, though it puts me under the greatest 
Difficulties, being the only one I have to provide myself 
and Diego in Provisions. For my Amelia Boat was wrecked 
before you came away. If you attempt nothing by Water, 
pray Send me Back that Boat. I desire also that you will 
send me the Indian presents, with power to distribute them, 
for much Depends upon the Nations. I wrote to Col. Cook 
to give you all the Assistance that can be in the present 

* This seems an empty boast, the General having found only graves 
and dead bodies at Moosa. See p. 81. 
f App. No. 99, 



84 

juncture. Pray, give me your advice what you think are 
the best measures if you attack the Gallies at all, or if you 
do not Succeed. 

I am Sr., your Most Humble Servant, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

On the 1st July, in this Situation of affairs, *Capt. Wright, 
of the Volunteers, Seeing no prospect of anything being 
attempted, having Received advice also from Home that the 
negroes were Like to make another Insurrection, and find- 
ing himself, as well as many of his Company, Reduced to a 
bad State of Health by the badness of the water on the 
Island (which had Introduced Fluxes and disorders into the 
Camp,) first waited on Col. Vanderdussen and acquainted 
him with his Intentions, and then Embarked for Carolina 
with the rest of the Gentlemen, except 5 or that Still 
Chose to Stay with the Regiment. This, from its very ap- 
pearance, produced a great uneasiness in the minds of those 
that were Left upon the Island. The Batteries and Castle 
kept firing this day as usual. Three of the Men-of-War 
came off the Bar again, and Capt. Warren went ashore upon 
the Island.f In the Evening Col. Vanderdussen Received 
Advice from the General that an Island Chief, Called the 
Cowkeeper, was arrived with 45 Creek Indians, and informed 
him that 800 more were upon their way in Several parties. 
On the 2nd all the Men-of-War being Returned off the Bar| 
(except Sr. Yelverton Peyton, in the Hector, who made the 
Best of his way for Virginia, though he had Left a Boat and 
Crew of hands ashore, and a Cable and anchor at Sea) The 
Commodore sent the Phoenix and Wolf Sloop with the 
Pilots to sound the Bar of the Matansas. At their return a 
Council of War was held, wherein those Pilots being Exam- 
ined upon oath, declared|| that there was not Water Enough 
upon the Bar for the Sloops to go in, and if they could go 
in they could not Lie safe from a Hurricane when in, nor 
could they fight more than one abreast in case they were 

* App. Nos. 42 and 28. f App. No. 100. 

J App. No. 25. || App. No. 101. 



85 

attacked by the Gallies. Then the Commodore asked Mr. 
Blompfield Barradal, Lieut, of the Wolf Sloop (who had 
been along with the Pilots), what he had to say in that 
affair. He replied that the Pilots had given their opinion, 
and that he was not there to be Examined, but that if the 
Court asked his opinion he would give it. The Court de- 
sired he would give his opinion. Then he Declared that 
there was not only Water enough upon the Bar for those 
Sloops to go in, But that they could be quite Safe when they 
were in, and that there was Room Enough for 3 of them to 
fight Abreast in Case they should be attacked. The Pilot 
objecting to their Lying, he asked them whether they re- 
member to have Seen such an Island when they were there ? 
They said they did. Then said he you ought to know that 
they could lie safe from a Hurricane under that Island. 
However, the Commodore sent the following Letter ashore 
to the General, and a copy thereof also to Colonel Vander- 
dussen : 

Flamborough, off the Bar of Augustine, 

2nd July, 1740. 

Sir : According to the Resolutions of the Council of War 
which I gave Col. Vanderdussen under my hand of ye 27th 
June Last, to get the two Men-of-War Sloops over the Bar 
of Matansas, I sent the Phoenix and Wolf Sloop to sound 
the same, and Enclosed is a Copy of the Examination of the 
Pilots who sounded that Bar wherein you will see 'tis Im- 
practicable to put in Execution. The 5th of July is near at 
hand. I shall, therefore, be obliged, in a Day or two, to 
Imbark the Seamen, and am Sr., &c. 

VINCENT PEARSE. 

Col. Vanderdussen, upon the Receipt of this, wrote the 
following Letter to the General : 

Camp upon Anastatia, 2nd July, 1740. 

Sir : I have received a Copy of the Last Resolution of 
the Council of War, held on board the Flamborough, 



86 

founded upon the Report made to them by the Pilots, who 
went to Sound the Matansas, which Report makes it Imprac- 
ticable to carry in those Men-of-War Sloops proposed ; and 
another part of the Resolution is to take on board all the 
Men and in two days to Sail from Hence, which part of the 
Resolution, if put in Practice, will put it out of our power 
to go on with the Siege, it not being in my power to main- 
tain this Island ; nor can I get my Men off If I was ordered, 
and in particular the Guns and other Materials. And in 
my opinion there is no way to maintain our Conquest but 
by Leaving the Matansas and this Island, which I think 
might be done, and to as good purpose as if the Men- of- War 
would have gone in. The way I would propose is to Send 
the Carolina Schooner and all the other Craft into the Ma- 
tansas, and to make a Battery upon the River St. Sebastian 
(which I mentioned to your Excellency), which Battery will 
keep their Gallies from moving any further to the South- 
ward, and the other Battery keeps them from going towards 
the Bar. So that we shall Blockade them up in a place 
where they can be of no use, and hinder all communication 
from the Southward. But as this is not in my power with- 
out assistance. I would advise application to be made to the 
Commodore for these 200 men to be Left ashore with proper 
officers to Command them, and they would maintain one of 
the Batteries till the Hurricane months be over, and we 
have the Ships Return. Capt. Townshend told me he was 
willing to stay if the Commodore would give him Leave to 
Command the Men, if Left behind. He's a young fellow of 
Spirit and I am sure, by what I have Seen Since he has been 
ashore, that he will not be Backward in anything where 
glory may be acquired. I desire that you will propose this 
to the Commodore, and in the meantime Remain your Ex- 
cellency's most Humble Servant, 

ALEX. VANDERDUSSEN. 

The General thereupon going over to Anastatia from the 
main, sent the following Letter to the Commodore: 



8? 
Camp upon Anastatia, 2nd July, 1740. 

Sir : *By Report of the officers of the Land forces under 
my Command, who I have spoke to, I find by Colonel Van- 
derdussen that, notwithstanding the Disappointment of the 
Sloops of the Men-of-War not being able to be Carried into 
the Matanzas, He with the Forces under his Command will 
undertake! to make a Battery, on the Bluff, under his Com- 
mand, of the River St. Sebastian, which will keep the Gal- 
lies from moving further to the Southward. And the 
Battery upon the Beach will prevent them from going 
towards the Bar, which will Block them up so as to be of 
no use. But he can manage one of the Batteries only, and 
cannot do this unless I keep the Main and Communicate 
with him from the South. He therefore desires me to apply 
to the Commodore for 200 Men that are here belonging to 
the Fleet, to be left ashore, with proper officers to Command 
them, and they would Maintain one of the Batteries till the 
Hurricane Months be over, and the fleet Return to our 
assistance, and that one of the Men-of-War may Remain at 
Frederica. If nothing can be done to Secure the Conquest 
of this Island, the next thing is to Secure the Artillery and 
the Troops. By this Day's Return upwards of 50 Men are 
Sick and unfit for Service of my Regiment, and others do 
not fare better. It is Impossible without assistance to carry 
off the Artillery. If that were once Safe, I would, with the 
Land forces and Indians, keep the main and the Town 
blockaded till I hear what Supplies might probably come. 
But sickness amongst us, Succours thrown into the place by 
the Information you sent me from Capt. Fanshaw, and be- 
sides, the Half Gallies, makes me think it necessary to Lay 
before you what they may do if they should follow and fall 
upon St. Andrews, Frederica and all the Settlements of Car- 

* App. No. 104. 

t Hereon the word of Gen. Oglethorpe himself we find that, so far 
from exhibiting impatience, Col. Vanderdussen continues to suggest 
plans to be executed by himself and his command, looking to perse- 
verance until the ships should return. 



88 

olina, are *Engaged here, of Georgia and the Strength ol 
Carolina are Engaged here. I desire, therefore, that you 
will think of protecting St. John's River, or at least Frede- 
rica, where Ships may come into Jekyll Sound, and take 
such other measures as may be proper to protect and pre- 
serve the Artillery and the Sea Coasts. 
I am Sr., &c, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

Few Guns fired this Day, and those by the Enemy. On 
the 3d fCol. Vanderdussen having Received Information 
in the Night that one of the Spanish Launches was come 
through the Matansas, and the Rest following, Marched 
with the Company of Grenadiers to the Narrows, between 
the Island and the Main. At Day break in the Morning 
he discovered 3 Launches and a Sloop, with a flag at the 
Masthead, lying just by where he was; he marched towards 
them. But the Gallies, perceiving it, came Directly to their 
Protection, and obliged him to Retire. The Commodore 
sent the General the following answer to his Letter of the 
day before, with the Resolution of a Council of War thereon : 

Flamborough, off the Bar St. Augustine, 

3rd July, 1740. 

Sir : JI had the favour of yours last night by Capt. War- 
ren : this morning I called a Council of War upon it. The 
Result of which I here Inclose to you, and agreeable to it 
shall, to-morrow Morning, embark the Seamen and Sail 
according to the Former Resolution of the Council of War. 
I shall, according to your desire, order one of the Men-of- 
War into Jekyll Sound. I am sorry that the Season of the 
year will not permit my Longer stay. I heartily wish you 
success, and am Sr., &c, 

VINCENT PEARSE. 



* There is some obscurity in this passage— probably it should be 
" while Georgia and the strength of Carolina are engaged here." 
f App. No. L05. % App. No. 108. 



SO 

*At a Council of War held on board his Majesty's Ship 
Flamborough, off the Bar of Augustine, 3rd July, 1740 — 
Present, Capt. Vincent Pearse, Capt. Warren, Capt. Charles 
Fanshaw, Hono'ble Capt. Geo. Townshend, Capt. William 
Laws, Capt. William Dandridge : General Oglethorpe hav- 
ing applied to me, by his Letter of the 2d instant, to Leave 
on Shore 200 Seamen belonging to his Majesty's Ships here, 
to man one of the Batteries on the Island of St. Eustatia, the 
same was taken into Consideration, and the Council are 
unanimously of opinion that the same could not be Com- 
plied with, for the following Reasons : 1st. That the Com- 
panies of his Majesty's Ships here are Reduced so much by 
the number of Sick on board and weakness of the Rest by 
over Fatigue in blowing, squally and rainy weather, that if 
they should spare the Number of men required, the Remain- 
der could not be able to Sail the Ships. 2ndly. That the 
time is so far Spent by which each Ship's Provisions are 
Reduced so low that it is Impossible to Leave a Sufficient 
Quantity of provisions for them till the Return of the Ships. 
3rdly. That there are not Slops on board the Fleet suffi- 
cient to Cloath them, and as Seamen have no other way of 
being Supplied with Cloaths, they must perish with Sick- 
ness in Rainy Season, that is now coming on, for want of 
Cloaths and necessaries. And if his Majesty's Service shall 
be thought to suffer for want of the Seamen's being Left on 
Shore, it is the Humble Desire of every officer present that 
a Proper Enquiry may be made where the Fault lies, and 
that the Person or Persons who have not done their Duty, 
or deceived others, may be punished according to their De- 
merits. It being further Desired by General Oglethorpe, in 
his said Letter, that I would protect St. John's River, or at 
least Frederica, where Ships may come into Jekyll Sound, 
and take such measures as may be proper to preserve the 
Artillery and Sea Coast ; the above being taken into Con- 
sideration, the Council are of opinion that if we could pro- 
tect the Sea Coast by cruising, we might Remain here, which 
all the Pilots are of opinion we cannot possibly do, as may 

* App. No. 106. 



•10 

appear by the Resolutions of the Council of War the 5th 
June last ; as to protecting St. John's River, we cannot Con- 
ceive how the General can suppose it to be done, Since he 
knows by Commodore Pearse's Letter of the 27th May Last, 
that it is Impracticable for a ship or sloop of war to go in 
and come out again. Signed by the officers : 

VINCENT PEARSE. GEO. TOWNSHEND. 

PETER WARREN. WILL'M LAWS. 

CHAS. FANSHAW. WILL'M DANDRIDGE. 

*The General Returned late at night to his own Camp 
upon the main. On the 4th the Seamen were ordered on 
board their Ships ; part of them Embarked. The General 
sent over to Anastatia, by Maj. Heron, the following orders, 
Directed to Col. Yanderdussen and Lieut. Col. Cook : 

Sirs : I send you the final result of the sea. If you find 
you can't make good the Artillery and the Island, preserved 
them, to assist you f in Imbarking it ; what cannot be pre- 
served must be Destroyed, and the men and Craft preserved 
You may either send to St. John's, elsewhere, or here, as 
vou think proper. 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

Take what provisions you think fit out of Logie's New 
Sloop, that she may go over the Bar to St. John's River. 
Supply the Sick with Provisions from her or any other. 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

Col. Yanderdussen, upon the Perusal of this, sent the 
following Letter to the General : 

Camp upon Anastatia, 4th July, 1740. 
J;Col. Cook Shewed me a small paper, wherein your Excel- 
lency desired him and me, if we could get no assistance from 
the Men-of-War, and could not bring off all the Artillery 
to Destroy the Remainder of them. As to the Artillery, as 

* App. No. 107. 

t This passage is not clear— but is substantially explained by ensuing 
letter from Col. Yanderdussen. 
J App. No. 108. 



91 

Col. Cook has the Charge of them, I shall Leave that In- 
tirely to him, and give him what assistance I can. You 
Desire us to preserve the Men and Craft, and to send them 
to St. John's, or elsewhere, which will not be so Easily done, 
for we cannot put our Men on board the Schooners, they 
not being able to get out at all times, and it is not to be sup- 
posed but that when the Gallies see'us moving, they will 
pursue and destroy some of our Men. The only way that 
I know (if it must be done), is to pass over to Point Quar- 
tell, and as that must be done with Row Boats, I have not 
Sufficient Number of them, for you have my Principal Row 
Boat, and some of the others Lie at the Point. But I can- 
not apprehend our Case is so bad * as to Leave our affairs 
in such a Manner, for if nothing else can be done, I am 
sure, if your Excellency comes over to this Island, we may 
still keep them Blockaded till we can get more assistance. 
If we make a Battery upon the Bluff the Gallies will be 
kept in, and we may, at all times, send Parties with Indians 
over to the Main and Harass them there, and send all our 
Craft into the Matansas, where they will Lie safe, and send for 
more Provisions, from time to time, as we shall have occa- 
sion. Your Excellency told me you were to send for Walker's 
Schooner, which, if done, and she arrives with men, I am 
sure we could Destroy the Gallies without the assistance of 
the Men-of-War. Your Excellency will Excuse me for 
giving my opinion ; as our Miscarriage will be of the 
Highest Consequence to the Province I have the Honour to 
be Sent by, I think it my Duty to offer anything that I 
think may save us from the Last Extream. But must leave 
that to your Excellency's superior Judgment, and therefore 
desire to have Positive orders from your Excellency how I 
am to Act, and shall take care to put them in Execution to 
the utmost of my power, and in the Meantime Remain 
Your Excellency's very humble Servant, 

ALEXANDER VANDERDUSSEN. 

* Despair seems at last to have taken possession of the General him- 
self—and from the "turbulent and disobedient" Carolinian come 
cheer and encouragement, and brave suggestion of something better 
than "to leave our affairs" in such manner. 



92 

In answer to this the General wrote back to Col. Vander- 
dussen thus : 

Camp before St. Augustine, 4th July, 1740. 

Sir : I thank you for giving your opinion, and your 
advice will always have a great weight with me. But the 
following Reasons Show the Necessity of Raising the 
Blockade from the Island and not losing all the Men there. 
Whilst they are preserved we may keep the Spaniards within 
Bounds, but if they are Lost, the Damage to the Province 
of Carolina will be very great. 1st. To Block up St. Au- 
gustine, Three parties are necessary, the 1st on Quartell, the 
2nd on the Main, and the 3rd on Anastatia. 2nd. Keeping 
that Island will not Block the Town by water, as appears 
by the Succours, which came Newly from the Havanna in 
Sloops and Landed in the Town yesterday. 3rd. If we 
could not Block the Town by water, with the assistance of 
the Men-of-War, much Less without. 4th. If the Gallies 
come out as soon as the Men-of-War are gone, and those on 
the Island are Blockaded, the loss of them and the Artil- 
lery will be greater than the Raising the Blockade of St. 
Augustine. I am no judge of the Sea, nor whether the Craft 
can go into the Matansas. But if they can, the Succours 
that can go into the Matansas may come in here, and there 
is Less Danger of their attacking our Craft whilst the Men- 
of-War are in Sight, and Supported by your Schooner and 
Logie's Sloop. I therefore prefer the Saving the Men, and 
also the Artillery, if Possible. The mortars are the first, 
therefore, to be Carried off, The Cannon and all the warlike 
Stores. Nothing Should be Destroyed but what can't be 
Carried off with Safety to the Men. Upon Crafts being sent 
off, I approve of your passing with the Rest to Cape Quar- 
tell, and thence to join me. We will play a Hand Game 
upon them, and do not Doubt to restrain the Spanish Gar- 
rison, keeping them in and till the Craft is Safe, and will 
assist and Support you to the Last Man. You will send the 
Craft under the Convoy of the Men-of-War, if they can stay 
for them, to Frederica or Charlestown. The Prize with 



93 

Logie should go into St. John's and defend that. This is 
my Disposition, which I only mention as advice to be 
judged of as you find necessary ; But what follows are orders. 

ORDERS. 

Lieut. Col. Cook and Col. Vanderdussen to Raise the 
Blockade from the Island of Anastatia, and come off with the 
Train and Troops, with the Least Loss you can prevent. 
But to Spoil Rather than leave the Artillery, and this Shall 
be your authority for so doing. 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

*On the 5th the Seamen were all taken off from the Island 
and carried aboard the Ships by the officers. Those Men 
were paid, by the General's orders, 12d. Sterling per diem 
for Landing and giving their assistance in Mounting the 
Artillery. Col. Vanderdussen (without whose orders they 
had Landed them) Solicited them hard to do it, but they 
were permitted only to draw off the 2 Eighteen pounders 
from the Lower Battery, nearest to the Landing, one of 
which they left in a Boat alongside one of the Carolina Ves- 
sels, and the other they dropt at low Water Mark, and 5 
Eighteen pounders more lay up and down, which they had 
Landed, but were never Mounted. About 10 in the fore- 
noon, the General moving out of his Camp towards St Au- 
gustine, a Body of about 300 Horse and foot came out to 
Meet him. But upon his advancing, and a Shell being 
thrown at the same time from Point Quartell, they only dis- 
charged their pieces and drove Back again full Speed. In 
a Short time they came out again and kept firing, but at 
such a Distance that only 3 were Slightly wounded. A 
Small party of the General's Men advanced, Beating the 
Grenadier's march very near the Castle, upon which they 
all Run in again as fast as before.f The General being 
within half a mile of the Place, under Cover of some bushes, 
asked Col. Barnwell what he thought of his letting Diego 
* App. Nos. 110 and 25. t App. Nos. 55 and 32. 



94 

Spinosa (who was then with them) go in, for that he had 
Promised to Return in 3 days, to which the Col. answered, 
that he had often heard his father say Never trust a Span- 
iard, nor be afraid of an Indian, then, said the General,! 
perceive you do not approve of it. However, having added 
that the Letting go a Single Prisoner was of no consequence 
and thai the Enemy knew the Situation of things by De- 
serters, he let the said Diego Spinosa go into St. Augustine 
to the great Dissatisfaction of all about him. A' soon as 
ever he was in there the Castle began to fire at the very 
Spot where the General's Men Were, and obliged them to 
Retreat.* At night all the Men-of- War set sail, with a very 
fair wind, Except the Phoenix and Tartar, the Carolina Sta- 
tioned Ships. At midnight a party of the General's men on 
the main alarmed the Town. The whole midnight almost 
was Spent on Anastatia in drawing down Artillery from the 
advanced Battery, about 2 Miles. Just before day the 9 
pounder and 2 Mortars were got down. On the Gth, early 
in the morning, one Benj. Bayley (an Irishman) belonging 
to Maj. Colleton's Company, who had been helping to bring 
off the Artillery, and had seen the Guns dismounted, was 
taken in the Marsh, opposite to the Town, attempting to 
desert over to the Gallies, by July, a free Negro, who went 
with the Volunteers in this Expedition, and used to Scout 
with some Negroes and Settlement Indians as their Captain. 
The man being tried by a Court Martial, held by the officers 
of the Carolina Regiment, was Condemned to be shot the 
next day, and the Sentence sent to the General. About 40 
Sick Men of the Carolina Regiment were put on board a 
Vessel in order to be sent home. All this day was Spent in 
imbarking Artillery and Stores of one kind or other. Col. 
Vanderdussen wrote the following letter to the General : 

Camp ox Anastatia, 6th July, 1740. 

Sir : i 1 hope by to-morrow to get most of our Cannon on 
board, and then shall hasten the Embarkation of the Troops. 
1 cannot help thinking that we never shall have such an 

App. No. HI. f A]>p. No. 112. 



95 

opportunity as we have now, for if we send our Craft Round 
to the Matansas, and make a Battery upon the Bluff, I will 
undertake to defend the place and keep them from all Com- 
munication to the Havanna or elsewhere, and that with 200 
Men more than what I have now, till we get Supplies from 
the Colonies. Your Excellency told me }^our Reason for 
Raising the Blockade was that, while the Men-of-War were 
here, we could not stop them from bringing Provisions from 
the Havanna. The Reason was because the Matansas was 
open, and no Battery upon the Bluff, which alone will Stop 
all passage, both from the Matansas and Musquitos. 
I am your Excellency's most humble Servant, 

ALEXANDER VANDERDUSSEN. 

*In the evening a Flag of truce was Sent in like manner 
as before by Col. Vanderdussen, with a Letter from the Gen- 
eral to the Governour of St. Augustine, the purport of which 
was said to be, that he Desired that his People then Pris- 
oners might be used well, and that he would pay for what 
should be allowed them. An answer was promised to be 
Sent the Next day. At Night 2 Eighteen pounders were 
drawn from the advanced Battery on the Island to the lower 
Battery. On the 7th, by day break, one Eighteen pounder 
more was drawn down. The Castle fired upon the People 
at Work ; the other 18 pounder which Remained, having 
been cracked in firing, and not worth bringing off, was burst 
and Nailed, so that Now everything was brought off from 
the advanced Battery. Cob Vanderdussen sent the follow- 
ing Letter to our Lt. Governour by the Boat with the Sick 
Men : 

Camp upon Anastatia, 7th July, 1740. 

Sir : I wrote you at Large of all our Transactions hith- 
erto ; I am now getting the Guns and Mortars Shipped off 
for the other side, and hope to be Ready to-morrow to make 
my Retreat, which I hope to perform without any Loss; but 
what the General designs to do then I do not know. He 
says that he designs to keep upon the Land side, but I am 

* App. No. L13. 



96 

almost sure that staying there is the Least of his thoughts, 
and, indeed, I think will he of no Service after Raising the 
Blockade upon this Island. We had the whole in our power, 
and still might Recover if we were to keep this Island, upon 
the Success of which I durst pawn my Life. I have done 
all I could against leaving the Blockade, hoth by word and 
Letters; but he is deaf to all, for what Reason the Lord 
knows. I wrote him yesterday, a Copy of which you have 
annexed. I have Sent this Boat with the Sick, and as soon 
as we get out shall send all the Rest to St. John's, where 
they shall Remain till I have other orders, and in the mean- 
time Remain your Honour's most humble Servant, 

ALEXANDER VANDERDUSSEN. 

The Sentence passed the day before upon Bayley having 
been approved by the General, at 10 o'clock the Carolina 
Regiment was, by the Colonel's orders, under arms. Soon 
after the Man was Shot, having first Confessed that he died 
deservedly, for the whole Artillery being either Shipped, 
drawn off, or dismounted, and the Provisions, &c\, put on 
board, the Enemy's coming at the Knowledge of it at that 
Juncture must have been of fatal Consequence to the Regi- 
ment. Col. Vanderdussen having at this Juncture per- 
ceived an Inclination to desert in some others, that either 
had Masters to Return to, or were in debt in Carolina, caused 
the whole Regiment to pass by the dead Body, man by man, 
and to Return to their places ; then going to the head of the 
Regiment, made a Short and proper Speech upon the occa- 
sion.* The Baggage and some of the Guns were put on board, 
in which Capt. Tyrrel was of great Service in the assistance 
he gave. A great Storm of Thunder and Lightning and 
Rain coming up, the Province's Schooner's mast was much 
damaged, and the flag at the Topmast head Struck down. 
The Blag at the Lookout was also Struck down at the same 
time.f In the Evening the Flags of truce met, and an 

* The charge of desertion applies to only two of the Carolina Regi- 
ment — one a New England man, and the other an Irishman, 
f App. No. 115. 



97 

answer was brought from the Governour to the General's 
Letter. The officer who brought it having, upon Inquiry, 
been told the Reason of -the Regiments being in Motion 
this Morning, Said such things would happen, and that 
they had, a few days before, Shot 4 Men for the same Rea- 
son. On the 8th Lieut. Col. Cook went over to Point Quar- 
tell, 2 Eighteen Pounders still Remaining Mounted at the 
Lower Battery, one of which he advised him to keep 
mounted till he went off, and then to Split it, which being 
afterwards Drawn off, and with the Remainder of the Artil- 
lery, being embarked in the afternoon, Col. Vanderdussen 
ordered all the Tents (except his own and those of the Front 
Line, which were in Sight of the Castle) to be struck and 
sent them on board the Craft, with all the Rest of the Lug- 
gage. Late in the evening he struck the Rest of the Tents, 
and sent them on board, then the Regiment was drawn up 
and lay on their arms. The Province Schooner and all the 
Rest of the Vessels and Boats were ordered to haul down 
by the Colonel to the Bar and lie there, Ready to go over 
in the morning. On the 9th, between 2 and 3 in the Morn- 
ing, Col. Vanderdussen marched down to the water side 
with all the Regiment, except his own Company and the 
Company of Grenadiers, and having seen them imbark in 
good order, he then sent for those oth^r 2 Companies, and 
saw them also imbarked a Little after Sun Rise, without the 
least confusion. Then he himself went off in a small Boat, 
having left nothing behind whatever but the Gun which 
was split. The tide being favourable and wind small, tho' 
there was a great swell upon the Bar, which caused the 
Largest of the vessels to thump upon it, and Brake off the 
Province Schooner's Keel, yet some being Rowed and some 
towed, all got Happily over in safety, being 14 sail in Num- 
ber. The Colonel had ordered the Drums of the two last 
Companies to beat the Reveille and the sentries to pass the 
word, which Deceived the Enemy, but by that time the Sun 
was up, and not seeing the English Colours, nor any of our 
People, they fired from the Castle upon the advanced Bat- 
tery, and no Return being made from thence, some of them 
7 



9S 

ventured ashore upon the Island. By this time all our Craft 
were got over the Bar. Then the Gallies dropped down 
opposite to Point Quartell Battery, where Ensign Mace was 
witli about 50 of the General's soldiers, and fired very 
Briskly upon them. They Hulled the Georgia Periauger, 
lying there. Ensign Mace Returned some shot from the G 
Pounders lying on the sand. Col. Vanderdussen expecting 
that they would make a descent from the Gallies, imme- 
diately Landed with the Company of Grenadiers, and Lieut. 
Col. Lejeau also with 20 Men more in a Row Boat; the Com- 
pany of Grenadiers being ordered to the assistance of En- 
sign Mace, the Gallies Retired.* Lieut, Col. Cook had sailed 
early in the morning, by the General's Directions, for St. 
John's, who carried off the mortar at that Point, and 2 Guns. 
Capt. Dunbar having been Left there by the General to 
desire Col. Vanderdussen to take off some sick men, their 
arms and Baggage, he accordingly sent them on board his 
own Boat. In the afternoon, the Craft having come near 
the Sea Beach, had Landed all the Regiment upon Point 
Quartell, which then lay open to their arms on the spot 
where they had had their first Camp on that Point. Col. 
Vanderdussen, seeing Capt, Fanshaw and Capt. Townshend 
under sail, went on board, and desired them to stay till 
night and Convoy the Craft to St. John's, which they did ; 
then he ordered all the Craft to sail in the evening with 
them, except 2 Row Boats to go along the shore and ajtend 
the Regiment with Provisions. In the meantimef the Gen- 
eral, who had gone from Point Quartell over to his Camp, 
near Moosa, in the morning, a little before Col. Vanderdus- 
sen's arrival, sent over orders to Capt. Dunbar and Ensign 
Mace to burn and destroy everything that they could not 
carry away, and to Retire to St. John's, who in the evening 
put these orders in Execution. He began with burning the 
Periauger, then he burnt above one hundred pounds sterling 
worth of Provisions (which the General, having purchased 

*Thus Ensign Mace, with 50 of the General's soldiers, were saved by 
Col. Vanderdussen's prompt action. 
f A pp. Nos. 1 16 and 120. 



99 

a short time before from a New York Sloop, bad landed 
there), Consisting of Bread, Flour, Hams, Cheese, Butter, 
Beer, &c. The soldiers were Loth to part with the 
Liquor, and therefore Drank very heartily of it. In that 
plight they burnt next their Cloaths, spare muskets, &c. >' 
one of the arms being loaded, discharged in the fire, and 
shot Ensign Mace in the thigh. The 3 six pounders belong- 
ing to the Phoenix they Buried in the Sands ; all this time 
two of their own Row Boats lay there Empty, but they got 
out, but it seems never stopped till they got to St. John's. 
Having made this Havock, the soldiers leaving everything 
else behind them, marched, or rather Rambled, at night 
over into Carolina Camp very merry.* About the same 
time the General, Retiring with his Regiment from his 
Camp, near Fort Moosa, marched off (as he expressed it) with 
drums beating and Colours flying fCol. Vanderdussen 
coming ashore and being informed of what had been carried 
off the Point, said that if they had applied to him he would 
have carried off their Provisions. About midnight he sent 
a party of his Regiment to their Camp at the Point, which 
they had quitted. JOnthe 10th, before day, that party brought' 
off several Swivel Guns, Hand Grenades, Shovels, Pick Axes, 
and many other things, which were all put on board the Colo- 
nel's two Row Boats, together with the wounded Ensign. ||The 
( Jolonel caused the Reveille to be Beat. The General's Men 
set off along the Beach for St. John's, being about 35 miles 
Distance. §At 9 o'clock the Carolina Regiment followed, 
having been detained till that time in fetching one thing or 
another from the Point, which the General's People had left 
there. Thus nothing was left at that Place but 3 Guns, 
which they had buried in the sand. The Regiment got to 
the first Palmetto Hut, being the first watering place, about 
2 o'clock. It being a very hot day, they halted there till 
the Dusk of the Evening, when they Marched again, and 
halted at the Second watering place, about 2 o'clock, better 
than half way to St. John's. The General halted this 



* App. No. 121. f App. No. lie. t App. No. 116. 

|| App. No. 117. \ App. No. 118. 



100 

Evening with his Regiment at a place culled the Grove 
On ye 11th, in the morning, he got to Fort Diego. The 
Carolina Regiment, at break of Day, marched again, and 
about 10 o'clock got to St. John's River, where they found 
all the Craft Safe arrived, and encamped about half a mile 
nearer to the Sea than before. The weather being very hot, 
and but two or three Watering places in all the Long March, 
though upon a fine Beach, many of the men that were 
grown weak and had not been able to keep with the Regi- 
ment, came in afterwards. In the evening* an Express to 
Col. Vanderdussen from the General arrrived there from 
Fort Diego, to Know whether they had got safe there. This 
Express Informed him that the General marched from 
Moosa the night before he left Point Quartell. Col. Van- 
derdussen sent the following Letter to the General : 

St. John's, 10th July, 1740. 

Sir : I imbarked my men and made my Retreat, brought 
off all my Cannon and carried off everything that was upon 
the Island, and Landed two hours afterwards upon Point 
Quartell, and Immediately sent my Grenadiers to the Point 
to assist in Case the Gallies should make any attempt to 
Land men, and seeing the men-of-war under Sail, I went on 
board and Desired Capt. Fanshaw to stay till night, in order 
to Convoy our Craft, for fear of the Gallies, which he 
promised me he would do, and then I gave orders to all our 
Craft to go directly to St. John's, where he promised to Con- 
voy them. At my arrival on shore I was told that Capt. 
Dunbar was gone over to your Excellency, who had ordered 
your People to Burn their Provisions, &c, and to Retire to 
St. John's. I sent before day Break, after your People had 
left the Point, for the Swivel Guns, Hand Grenades, and 
some other things that your People had Left, and put them 
on board a small Row Boat, which I had kept there to at- 
attend me, on board of which was Ensign Mace, who had 
been wounded by a musket that had been thrown into the 
fire when they were burning other things. I arrived this 

* App. No. 119. 



101 

Moment at this place, where I find the Craft all safe arrived. 
But the Schooner and Sloops are not got in yet, I suppose 
for want of tide. I am told that Col. Cook is upon the other 
side, and well, but have not yet heard from him. I am 
Ready to obey your Excellency's Commands, and Remain 
your Excellency's most humble servant, 

ALEXANDER VANDERDUSSEN. 

On the 12th, in the morning, that party of the General's 
men which had left Point Quartell got to the Camp at St. 
John's. On the 13th Col. Vanderdussen Received the fol- 
lowing Letter from the General :* 

Fort Diego, 13th July, 1740. 

Sir : I am glad of your arrival at St. John's, and approve 
of your Expeditious Landing on Point Quartell, where you 
saw Capt. Dunbar, who was ordered to Concert with you, 
and to come to me on your Landing. I am sorry the Pe- 
tiaugei\ which should have Carried off the Guns from Point 
Quartell, was stranded and burnt, which occasioned the 
Leaving those Guns. I marched with drums Beating and 
Colours flying the same night you left Point Quartell, and 
Encamped near Augustine, Expecting the Spaniards would 
have made a sally, for which purpose I stayed sometime the 
next morning, and Marched Gently on the brook by Yaraway, 
and that Evening to the Grove, and the next Morning 
Reached this place. I have had none Deserted, left none 
behind, nor Lost a man from hence. I have sent out par- 
ties to Quartell and Augustine to see what they are doing. 
Their Gallies advanced 6 miles up the River St. Diego, and 
then Returned, but by land they have made no advance at 
all. 1 send to Augustine a party of the Indians this day to 
attack any parties that come out. I march from hence to- 
morrow, in the afternoon, and Desire that you would stay 
at St, John's that I may Consult with you on the present 

* App. No. 121. 



102 

occasion. Pray show this to the Lieut. Colonel, it will save 
Double writing. 

I am, Sr., your most obedient humble servant, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

A Party of the Carolina Regiment was sent to Fort Diego 
to fetch what things were left there belonging to them. On 
the 14th some of the General's People arrived at the Camp 
at St. John's, who said that he intended to Burn Port Diego 
and everything there, and Retire to St. John's. On the 15th, 
in the Evening, the General's Regiment got to St. John's ; 
one of the officers Related that he had left Fort Diego with- 
out burning it, and with the addition of a Ditch and Breast- 
work Round it ; that 3 of their men Deserted from Diego and 
2 from Point Quartell the night before the Carolina Regi- 
ment marched from thence. That Diego Spinosa's Brother 
came out after them with a small party of Negroes and 
Indians to see whether the General was gone, and whether 
he had burnt Fort Diego, and that the Indians with the 
General (viz : the Chicasaws, as it appeared afterwards) 
scalped some of them, and having taken Diego's Brother, 
they would not part with him to the General, upon any 
Consideration, but carried him off. About 9 o'clock the 
General himself came into the Camp at St. John's. On the 
lGth Col. Vandcrdussen Received from the General the 
following orders: 

Camp on St. Mathis, in Florida, 

16th July, 1740. 

Colonel Vanderdussen and the Carolina Regiment are to 
stay in Florida till farther orders, it being necessary for his 
Majesty's service, the General having sent up to Carolina to 
Concert with that Government the measures necessary to be 
taken against the Spaniards, and for the security of the 
Province of Carolina at this Juncture. 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

This day Col. Vanderdussen Received the following Letter 
from our Lieut. Governour :* 

* App. No. 124. 



103 

Charlestown, July 9, 1740. 
Sir : Although I had yesterday sent my Letters by the 
Scout Boat, yet I thought proper by Vaughan to acquaint 
you that Capt. Walker's Schooner's will be Ready in two or 
three days. I shall send in her Capt. McNeal and his Com- 
pany, a Master and Sailing Crew, G Nine pounders (that she 
may withstand the Gallies on occasion), 12 or 14 Swivel 
Guns, some plank, &c. Our assembly are to meet next 
Week ; please to communicate the Contents of this to the 
General and Captains of his Majesty's Ships. 
I am Sr., your most Humble Servant, 

WILLIAM BULL. 

On the 17th Colonel Vanderdussen Received two Letters 
from our Lieutenant Governour,* acquainting him, among 
other things, besides the said intention that, as soon as the 
Men-of-War should come away, he would order Capt. Tyrrel 
and all the other Masters in the pay of this Province to fol- 
low his orders, that as soon as the assembly met (which 
would be on the 15th) he would Endeavour to prevail with 
them to do what was most for the Service of his Majesty 
and the good of their Country, and should also apply to the 
Governours of North Carolina and Virginia for some assist- 
ance, in order to Continue the Blockade, if nothing more 
could be clone. fOn the 18th Colonel Vanderdussen having 
communicated the same to the General, who said he had 
Received a Letter himself to the Like purpose, and asked 
him what he designed to do, the General Replyed that he 
would only refresh his Men and then march Back ; that if 
they could March from thence (St. John's) to Augustine in 
one day, the Enemy, thinking they were gone, would be 
Liable to be Surprised, and that he would write the Lieut. 
Governour at Large. The Letters which the General Re- 
ceived at this time were two, as follows : 

Charlestown, 28th June, 1740. 
Sir : Your Letter of the 16th instant I Received by the 
hands of Capt. William Palmer, who has informed me that 
* App. No. 125. t App. No. 126. 



104 

he was present in the Engagement when his Father and 
about 78 men were Killed by the Spaniards in the attack 
they made against the Small party of our forces, consisting 
of 140 Men, about a mile distance from the Castle, who 
you say being Left to alarm the Spaniards on the Land side, 
were Surprised by them. It is a matter of great Concern 
to me to hear the Enemy had so great an advantage of 
those brave Men, and to make such a Havock among them, 
without the Least fear of their being relieved or Supported 
by any assistance, as one Regiment was safe with you on the 
Island, and the other on the Point opposite to it, without 
the Craft hired by this Government for their use and service, 
and the Spaniards at full Liberty to go anywhere but on 
the Island and Point, where two Regiments are posted. The 
Concern I have for Carolina and the well wishers who are so 
Chearf ully to venture their lives in this Expedition, makes 
me hope and desire to hear something more to the Benefit 
and Satisfaction of the good people of this Province, who 
have so Readily assisted in this undertaking. I shall send 
you this by Mr. Dugald McNeil, a Gentleman whom I have 
appointed a Captain in Colonel Vanderdussen's Regiment. 
I heartily wish you Success, and am Sr., } T our most Obedient 
Humble Servant, 

WILLIAM BULL. 

< 'iiarlestown, 7th July, 1740. 
Sir:* By the Scout Boat I Received your Letter of the 
13th June last, wherein you are pleased to inform me that 
you had Recovered Moosa, buried the dead, and drove the 
Spaniards into St. Augustine; That you greatly want an 
assistance of Men; That Malachi and Chigilli, with all the 
Lower Creeks, have declared for us, and some of them have 
been down, and more are Expected every day at Pupa. I 
am glad you are like to have such assistance from the Creeks 
at a time when you want it. They or the other Indians are 
able and will do good Service on this occasion, if they are 
well used, Encouraged, and not disgusted by any Restraint 

* App. No. L28. 



105 

from that they apprehend they have a right to Enjoy whilst 
they are in an Enemy's Country. And I am glad to hear 
there are fewer killed than was Reported, though we have 
no Assistance from those who are yet alive, since they are 
Prisoners, and can't avoid discovering the Number and 
Condition of our Divided forces, which may prove a greater 
benefit to the Enemy than they could have if our Troops 
were united. Col. Vanderdussen can Inform you that my 
Endeavours and attention were Employed with the greatest 
diligence, and in every Shape, to Encourage and prevail 
with our Inhabitants to proceed in the Expedition, and 
there is Little reason to expect any further assistance of men 
from this Province, since the Success, as it is Called, of the 
undertaking has given so Little Satisfaction ever since the 
Surrender of Fort Diego, which was about the 12th May 
last. 

I should be glad to hear what Benefit we can have from 
Moosa, or the Island of Eustatia, being in our possession, 
two places which the Enemy had deserted, or thought 
proper not to Contend for, by their Making no Residence at 
either that ever I heard of. Our General Assembly are to 
meet the 15th Instant, and I will then Endeavour to lay be- 
fore them a true state of our affairs, and prevail with them 
as far as possible to do what is most for the Service of his 
Majesty and good of their Country. In the meantime I am 
fitting out Walker's Schooner, which Mr. Bulledge Informed 
me I was desired should be sent, with some more Plank. I 
was informed the other was mismanaged and lost. I shall 
send in this Schooner Capt. McNeil and his Company, a 
Master and Sailing Crew, 6 nine pounders, that she may 
withstand the Gallies upon occasion, 12 or 14 Swivel Guns, 
&c. I shall apply to the Governour of North Carolina and 
Virginia and desire an assistance of Men at their Expense, 
in order to Continue a Blockade, if nothing more can be 
done. But I have been in hopes of hearing that our Forces 
were united, and carrying on regularly the approach, in 
order to get Possession of the Town and Confine the Enemy 
to the Castle, where they would soon have felt the Effects of 



106 

our Smallest Shells falling among them, and if no Steps to 
such a purpose have been or will be taken, I Confess I have 
Little hopes of that Success, which was at first Expected, 
and so much desired, by the Inhabitants of this Province. 
The Schooner will, I hope, be ready in two or three days, 
but as the Scout Boat waits, I thought it the most certain 
way to send the Letters with her Rather than the Schooner. 
I am Sr., your most Humble Servant, 

WILLIAM BULL. 

On the 19th the General sent the following Letter to our 
Lieut. Governour: 

Camp in Florida, 19th July, 1740. 
Sir : To satisfy our friends, though I have but very little 
time, I shall Trouble you with a Long Letter, which I be- 
lieve will clear up all objections concerning the. Manage- 
ment of the present Expedition. Augustine cannot be 
Closely shut up without Dividing the Troops that Besiege 
it ; there must be one party on the Main, one on St. Anas- 
tatia, and one on Quartell, which I could not Execute till 
the Seas spared the 200 from the Island. You must remem- 
ber I mentioned that Augustine was Scarce of food, the En- 
trenchment round the Town weak, and the Garrison not 
Completed. I therefore insisted to attack it Immediately, 
since all hopes of Success lay in Speed, and that as I appre- 
hended, if we delayed, Succours would come from Cuba, 
they would Fortify the Town, fill up their new Effectives ; 
the Season of the year would force the men-of-war into Har- 
bour, and the Heat would occasion Sickness amongst ours. 
All which has happened; After I Left Charlestown, and 
before the Troops got to the Rendezvous, 6 half Gallies with 
Long Brass Nine pounders, got into Augustine, with 2 Sloops 
Loaded with Provisions. These half Gallies made the Com- 
munication between the Main Land by the Indian Church 
and the Sea Impracticable, unless we could make ourselves 
masters of the Harbour and the Entrance of the Bar. There- 
fore we made ourselves masters of Point Quartell and the 



107 

Island of Anastatia. It was Impossible to carry heavy Can- 
non and mount them, and make Trenches without Pioneers, 
and yon know when I proposed 400 of them, whites or Ne- 
groes, it was an Expense the Province could not afford. The 
Commodore and officers of his Majesty's Ships helped us at 
this dead Lift, They Landed the Guns and Mortars upon 
the Island, which they could not do upon the Main. The 
Commodore and Sea officers agreed with me that they would 
attack the Gallies, which, if taken, was to be followed by 
Col: Vanderdussen attacking the Town on the Water side at 
the same time as I was to attack it on the Land. I accordingly 
went on the Main. If the Town had been Carried and the 
People forced into the Castle, the Bombs would have Forced 
the Castle soon to Surrender : and till then the People Re- 
tired to the farthest part of the Town. Whilst the half 
Gallies were untaken, it was Impossible to attack the Town 
on the Water side, and the Fortifications were so Increased 
since January last, that there was no pretending to attack 
it on the Land side without its being at the same time 
Stormed on the other. The Commodore acquainted me 
that the Council of War found it Impracticable to attack 
the half Gallies, and that they were obliged to leave the 
Coast on the 5th of July, and that the Several Vessels 
loaded with Provisions were got into the Matansas for the 
Spaniards. Colonel Vanderdussen Made Several Hand- 
some Proposals, to which I Refer you. The Indians were 
tired with the Heats and Bad weather, and Resolved to 
Return home ; I was obliged to give very Large Sums to 
get them to stay a few days. Our men grew unhealthy, so 
that the Returns of the Sick have amounted to 50 a day. 
The place our Craft lay in within the Bar of Augustine was 
Exposed to Easterly winds, which now begin to grow dan- 
gerous, and considering everything, I thought the only safe 
way was to remove and to Embark the Cannon, Mortars, 
&c, to send them in safe Harbour and to keep the field, and 
wait till we could hear what Succours towards taking the 
Town could be hoped for. Col. Cook and Col. Vanderdus- 
sen got everything on board from Anastatia, and all the 



108 

Craft came in Safe hither. After the Craft were sailed, Col. 
Vanderdussen landed, by my orders, on Point Quartell, and 
marched from thence to St. John's. I marched at first 
towards the Town, then returned and Encamped 8 miles 
from it. The next day I marched about 7 miles more and 
halted that night to see if I could draw them to Venture 
any men out from Augustine, and next day to Fort St. 
Diego, where a Party of their Horse, Negroes and Indians, 
attempting to pursue us, were Charged and Beaten, one 
Spanish Horseman taken and 2 Indians killed, and the rest 
ran very fast to the Town. I joined Col. Vanderdussen at 
this Camp where we are, in a Condition any time to March 
Back and attack Augustine, if Strength Sufficient should 
arrive, having all our Provisions and Artillery ready on 
board the Craft. It is absolutely Necessary, if Augustine is 
not taken, to pursue some Measure to restrain the half Gal- 
lies, for the mischief they can do along the Coast is incon- 
ceivable. With Respect to the affairs at Moosa, I send depo- 
sition, by which you will find that the occasion of Losing 
that Party was the disobeying my orders, and Mr. Palmer 
is mistook in many parts of his account. 

I am Sr., your most obedient humble Servant, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

P. S. — I was very glad you sent Walker's Schooner. I 
wish that she had come Sooner. I am very willing to give 
all assistance I can towards Lightening the Burthen of the 
good People of Carolina, and therefore will pay 100 men, if 
they are discharged out of the Carolina Regiment, into an 
Independent Company which I will Raise. They will 
enable you to send 100 fresh men to the Regiment without 
any new Expense. 

July (the free Negro), having been out Scouting the day 
before with some Indians, Reported that he had seen some 
Cattle on the other side a Creek. Col. Vanderdussen sent 
him out again before day to kill some of them, and at the 
same time he sent also a party of 50 men of the Regiment 
to view all the avenues between that and Fort Diego, and 



109 

see if any of the Spaniards were out that way. The General 
also sent the same time an Ensign and 40 Men of his Regi- 
ment to the Palmetto Hut, in order to Launch a Boat that 
was ashore there. In the evening July Returned to the 
Camp, having come up with the two herds of Cattle, near 
50 head in each, and killed 3 of them. On the 20th, in the 
morning, the General's party Returned from the Palmetto 
Hut to the Camp, having lost a Sergeant, Corporal, and 3 
Men, who deserted while they were there from the head of 
the Command, with their arms and accoutrements, upon 
which Col. Vanderdussen immediately dispatched an Ex- 
press to Carolina with the following Letter to the Lieut. 
Governour: 

Camp St. John's, 20th July, 1710. 

Sir : Yesterday the General sent out a party of 40 Men, 
the Sergeant, Corporal and 3 men of which party deserted 
from the head of the Command, with their arms and accou- 
triments, and about 14 deserted from him before ; which 
Spirit of desertion, if it continue, may be of Dangerous 
Consequence. I desire you will send me orders what I am 
to do, as soon as Possible, for our People grow very Sickly. 
I am your Honor's most humble Servant, 

ALEXANDER VANDERDUSSEN. 

In the Evening the party which Col. Vanderdussen had 
sent out the day before Returned into the Camp. In the 
Night 3 Men more of the General's Regiment deserted.* On 
the 21stf the General's Men threatened to go away in whole 
parties if they were not Carried Back : obliged to Imbark 
them all in the Evening, Except his Body guard, and send 
them over to St. George's Island, from whence he ordered 
them to go to Frederica. $On the 22d in the Morning, the 
General's Regiment, having Struck their Flag at Fort St. 
George, marched off towards Frederica. Colonel Vander- 
dussen still Remained with the Carolina Regiment on the 
Spanish side of St. John's River, waiting for orders from 

* App. No. 131. f App, No. 132 ami I3l>. J App. No. 133. 



110 

our Lieut. Governour, and the arrival of Walker's Schooner 
(fearing she might pass by, and Expecting to find him at 
Augustine, fall into their hands), and also to protect some 
Men which the General sent up to destroy Pupa, on the 
North side. *In the Evening July came into the < 'amp with 
the Indians, and gave Information that they had met with 
the Tracks of several Spanish Indians, whereupon they were 
ordered to keep out all night, and the Regiment to be under 
arms (as they were there every Morning) at 3 o'clock in the 
morning. On the 23rd the Regiment was accordingly under 
arms at 3 in the morning, and at sun Rise the Company of 
Grenadiers marched round the Camp, at sonic distance in 
the woods, and found several fresh Tracks of Indians, who 
had been at the Creek behind the Camp that Morning, but 
saw none of them. In the afternoon the Baggage was 
ordered aboard. fOn the 24th, in the Morning, 4 of the 
Creek Indians that were taken Prisoners at Fort Moosa 
came into the Camp at St. John's. The Governour of St. 
Augustine had given them their Liberty and Presents, in 
order to make that nation his friends, and had Dispatched 
them with Letters to the Governour and others at St. Fran- 
cis and St. Mark's, giving him a Particular account of all 
that had happened, and how St. Rosana had protected 
them in a most miraculous Manner from the English : for 
that when the Blockade was made they had but 3 days' Pro- 
visions of Bread and flour in the Castle, and acquainted 
him that, in Case the War Continued, it would be very 
necessary to have more Indians of their Party. The Men 
whom the General had sent to destroy Fort Pupa being- 
Returned, Col. Vanderdussen embarked all his Regiment on 
board the Carolina Craft in order to Return home. On the 
25th all the Vessals weighed anchor to go over the Bar, but 
only the Province's Schooner and a few others got out. On 
the 26th all the rest of the Vessels got over to St. John's 
Bar, and having joined the others, Col. Vanderdussen set 
sail with the whole for St. Simon's, in order to Supply them 
with Water there (that at St. John's being Scarce fit to 

* App. No. 136. t App. No. 134. 



Ill 

Drink), and also to take in the Guns which had been Shipped 
off at Anastatia on board some of the General's Vessels. 
On the 27th, at 4 in the afternoon, all the Vessels arrived at 
the Camp at St. Simon's, where they found the Tartar, Man- 
of-War, and Col. Vanderdussen Received by the Scout Boat 
the following Letter and orders from our Lieut, Governour : 

Charlestown, 10th July, 1740. 

*Sir : I herewith send you a Copy of the Resolution of 
the General Assembly in Relation to the Forces employed 
in the pay of this Province, to assist in the Expedition 
against St. Augustine. By which you will see that I am 
desired to give orders for the Immediate Return of the 
Forces under your Command in the pay of this Province. 
I do therefore hereby order and direct that you, with all 
convenient speed, do Embark in the Vessels and Boats be- 
longing to and in the pay of this Province the Troops under 
your Command, with the Cannon, small arms and ammu- 
nition, and other Warlike Stores, Indian Presents,. &c, 
belonging to this Province, and to make the Best of your 
way to Charlestown, to which place 1 wish you a good pas- 
sage and safe arrival. 

I am Sr., your most affec't humble Servant, 

WILLIAM BULL. 

On the 28th Colonel Vanderdussen landed all his men at 
St. Simon's to Refresh them. The same day the General's 
troops arrived there from St. Andrew's. Col. Vanderdussen 
sent the following Letter to our Lieut. Governour : 

St. Simon's, 28th July, 1740. 

*Sir : In my last by Mr. Stone I gave your honour ac- 
count of the Desertion of the General's people. The next 
day after that they Threatened to go away in parties if they 
were not carried Back, which obliged him to Embark them 
all before Night, and ordered them to Fred erica. I stayed 
there 3 days afterwards, waiting for your Honour's orders 
* App. No. 135. t App. No. L36. 



112 

and the arrival of Walker's Schooner (lest he should have 
passed by and fallen into their hands at Augustine, expect- 
ing to find us there), also to protect those men that were 
sent up by the General to destroy Pupa. As soon as they 
arrived I imbarked all the Forces and made sail for this 
Place, to Supply ourselves with Water (that at our Camp at 
St. John's not being fit to be drank), and likewise to take in 
the Guns that had been shipped off for this place on board 
some of the General's Vessels. I Received your Honour's 
orders yesterday by the Scout Boat for my Immediate return 
with the forces and Warlike Stores, belonging to the Prov- 
ince of South Carolina, which I shall Directly put in Ex- 
ecution. I had already taken 3 Eighteen pounders from on 
board Davis's Sloop and put them on board of Capt. 
Tyrrel, when I Received a Letter from the General from 
Frederica, in which he answered that to him (he being Sick) 
in order to Consult with me, as he said, upon something he 
had Received from Carolina. I communicated my orders 
to him, and desired that he would give orders to Capt. Logie 
to deliver 5 more Eighteen pounders he had on board of 
him, and was then lying at Frederica; to which he answered 
that he would not let me have them, having no Guns to 
protect that place, and would, therefore, enter a Protest, for 
which purpose he has Sent for Col. Cook, who is upon Cum- 
berland. As those Guns are on board of Vessels belonging 
to himself, it will not be in my Power to bring them away 
without orders. I hope by to-morrow night to have all the 
Vessels watered, and shall sail the Next day for Carolina, 
and in the meantime I Remain your Honour's most humble 
Servant, 

ALEXANDER VANDERDUSSEN. 

On the 3rd August, the Regiment being reimbarked, all 
the Vessels set Sail from St. Simon's, and having been obliged, 
by Contrary winds, to put into Savannah, where they lay 
from the 5th to the 12th, on ye 13th they all arrived safe 
at Charlestown, 14 Men having come back less than went 
out, Viz : 7 died of the Flux, 1 of the Quinzy, 4 By differ- 



113 

ent accidents, 1 (a New England Man) deserted, and 1 (an 
Irish Man) shot for attempting to desert. But as it pleased 
God not a Man of the Regiment having been killed by the 
Enemy. 

Thus your Committee have made a faithful Narrative 
to the House of the manner in which the Expedition 
against St. Augustine was conducted, in which that the 
House might have the fullest Information possible, they 
have not omitted the Transaction of any one day that hath 
come to their Knowledge. The many days which contain 
only things that may appear Singly of little Importance to 
have been Related, perhaps will be thought, all together, to 
afford not the most Trifling information. And though your 
Committee are fully sensible that, after this plain statement 
of facts, they must be anticipated in anything that they can 
further say, yet as it is their Duty they will now point out 
to the House what they Conceive to be the Principal and 
most apparent Causes of the 111 Success that attended this 
most Extraordinary Expedition, which proved to have all 
the advantages in its favour which this Province pleased 
itself with the Expectation of when it engaged therein. 
They will also, with as much brevity as possible, add such 
observations upon the whole affair as appear to them to be 
proper. And here your Committee beg leave, previously, to 
observe that as they are not bred Soldiers, so they do not 
pretend to much knowledge in military affairs, as they are 
understood to be an art or Science, yet as there is no Science 
whatever the Rules of which are not 'founded agreeably to 
Reason, so your Committee, making use of that Share of 
Reason only which God hath been graciously pleased to 
deal out in Common to all man-kind, will (as they think 
they have a Right to do) freely discuss and Censure those 
Steps which have been taken in this Expedition that seem 
to them Repugnant thereto. Your Committee cannot help 
taking notice first of one or two Steps which taken by the 
General prior to this Government's having actually Engaged 
to assist in an Expedition, and while he was only treating 
about it, yet drew after them a Consequence of the Utmost 
8 



114 

Importance afterwards to the Success thereof. The one was 
his Landing in Florida (as hath heen observed that he ad- 
vised our Lieut. Governour the 20th December), upon some 
Spaniards having Killed two of his People upon Amelia 
Island, and pursuing them within a few miles of St. Augus-' 
tine, where the Indians, then with him, Killed one negro. 
Must not this action have given a great alarm to the Gover- 
nour of that place? Was it prudent in the General, on so 
Slender an occasion, to land himself in person in an Ene- 
my's Country at a time when he was preparing to make an 
Invasion in form? The other step was, as hath been ob- 
erved, that he advised the Lieut. Governour, the 20th Janu- 
ary following, of his attacking and taking, on the 8th of that 
month, two Little Spanish Forts on the River of St. John's, 
Viz : St. Francis de Pupa, on the north side (where he easily 
took indeed a few Prisoners), and left a Garrison, it seems, 
of about 40 Men, and Picolata, on the south side, from 
whence the Men there as Easily made their Escape to St. 
Augustine, which is but about 45 miles from it, after this 
Province had agreed to assist the General in an Expedition. 
This gave so great an alarm that, as it appeared by Letters 
which Capt. Warren found on board the Vessel that he took 
bound from St. Augustine to Cuba, The Governour of St. 
Augustine Sent an account thereof to Cuba, adding that he 
Expected a Siege, and pressed for an Immediate Supply of 
Provisions, ammunition, &c, to Enable him to maintain 
the place. The Consequence of this was, besides a Supply 
of Provisions, the arrival of o' half Gallies, which makes so 
great a figure in the Narrative, which employed the atten- 
tion of our Forces more than the Castle, and Kept them 
under perpetual nightly arms to defend themselves. This 
appears by the Ceneral's Letter, which your Committee 
have repeated in their narrative, dated 10th July, wherein 
he says : " After I left Charlestown, and before the Troops 
got to the Rendezvous, 6 half Gallies, with long Brass 9 
pounders got into St. Augustine, with 2 Sloops Loaded with 
Provisions." The General's Conduct in these two Cases ap- 
pears to your Committee the more Extraordinary, as they 



115 

observe that in the very first Letter, dated 27th September, 
which he wrote to the Lieut. Governour upon the subject of 
this Expedition, he presses his Honour that they might begin 
with the Siege of St. Augustine before more Troops arrived 
there from Cuba. Ought he then to have taken any one 
step that could be supposed sufficient to put the Governour 
of that place upon sending for Succours? Though the 
mind being long Entertained with something different from 
what it Expected, and carried away Insensibly by a scene of 
action from its first object, is apt to Lose Sight of it, yet your 
Committee think it in a manner needless to remind the 
House of the footing upon which the Expedition of St. Augus- 
tine was Engaged in by this Government. It is impossible 
that any member of this House can Have forgot it: a vigorous 
sudden attack was to be made upon the Town. If that was 
carried upon the first surprise, and the People forced into 
the Castle, then we were Immediately to Bombard it, and 
Keep out any supply of Provisions. Therein all our hopes 
and dependence were placed. If that attempt miscarried, 
then to lay Siege to the place in October following, till when 
a thing of that nature was not proposed to be put in Execu- 
tion, the preparation not being Calculated for it, not even 
Cannon for a Battery so much as mentioned in the General's 
Estimate. The twelve 18 pounders which did go were sent 
by the Lieut, Governour, to be Ready at hand in Case such 
a thing should be wanted, and found to be of service. Yet 
any one unacquainted with this, and hearing, only the Nar- 
rative which your Committee have made of the Conduct of 
the Expedition, could not possibly conceive that any such 
sudden attempt was ever proposed, much less concerted and 
agreed upon. It is obvious to the Greatest degree, that from 
the time the General left Charlestown to that memorable 
day when he showed himself with the forces before St. Au- 
gustine, every step he took, everything he did, tended man- 
ifestly to alarm the place before hand, and to prevent that 
surprise upon which our chief hopes of success depended. 
As soon as ever he got himself to the place of Rendezvous 
appointed, where he had agreed with the Different Com- 



116 

mands to Concert Measures, before the Commodore of his 
Majesty's Ships, before Col. Vanderdussen, that had the chief 
Command of the Carolina Forces, or any other field officer 
of cither Regiment arrived, there he passes directly overSt. 
John's River into Florida with what men he only had, then 
marches away about 25 miles (about half way to St. Augus- 
tine from thence), to attack a Little Pallisade Fort upon a 
Cowpcn within about 20 miles of St. Augustine, which having 
been Surrendered to him upon articles, he spends about 3 
weeks more with as Remarkable Slowness in doing nothing 
but Sending out Parties towards Augustine to Reconnoitre, 
and parties back to St. John's to fetch daily Provisions, 
chiefly on their Backs* 

During all this time the Spaniards at St. Augustine had 
frequent opportunity of Knowing both the arrival and the 
number of the forces. For the very day the General had the 
above Fort surrendered to him, a party of Spanish Horse and 
foot came in sight and Returned Back to St. Augustine. He 
himself, 4 Days afterwards, pursued some Spanish Indians 
that shot one of his Servants within sight of Augustine, at 
which time also another party of Spanish Horse and foot 
discovered him and Retired. Some of the Prisoners which 
he had taken in Fort Diego made their Escape from Boats 
which they were put on board of at St. John's, and two more 
of those Prisoners he sent into St. Augustine himself with 
Letters, it seems, to Encourage the men of that Garrison to 
desert to him, upon a promise of good Usage, &c. However 
at last he marched from Fort Diego with all the Forces to 
St. Augustine, and on the 2nd June, before day, halted 
within 2 miles of it. All the men-of-war, in number 7, had 
showed themselves the day before off the Bar. At this time 
then it was to be Expected that he should have Endeavored 
to push into the Town and force the Inhabitants into the 
Castle, but we are- most Surprisingly told that he went in 
this manner only to reconnoitre the place; indeed he did 
not so much as carry a mortar with him, and scarce any 
ammunition or Provisions : and when Col. Palmer, who had 
the most Knowledge of the place, offered to head a party of 



117 

men and to go in and burn the town, the General, in a most 
amazing manner, tells him That it was too Hazardous an 
action, that he Knew what to do ; that it was the custom 
of armies always to show themselves to the Enemy first and 
to make a Feint. Your Committee are really at a Loss for 
words to Express their Sense on this occasion. What, did 
the General never think before how hazardous this action 
was to be, or if he did, and thought it too Hazardous, why 
did he lead this Government into so great and needless Ex- 
pense? Did not every man that went from this Province 
go voluntarily, with the Expectation of Running such a 
Hazard ? What could the General desire more than a 
whole Regiment of Men willing to Enter upon such an 
action? Your Committee are acquainted with the Feints 
and many other things in the Rules of war, but they cannot 
reconcile it to their Reason that any General who Really 
Intends to Surprise a place, should first bring all his forces 
before it then march off again, as ours Did, with Drums 
Beating and Colours flying. Ca.n any greater Cause be 
assigned for the 111 Success of the Expedition than this 
already given? Your Committee think not. Though so 
much alarm had been given before, yet it appears that on 
sight of our Troops the Town was put in the utmost con- 
fusion, and in all probability must have been taken, because 
by the Information of Deserters the Governour had ordered 
the Inhabitants, in Case of an attack, to go into the Castle. 
Our men were Desirous to attack it, and though by that 
time they had been too much fatigued with marches, yet 
they were never in better spirits or* Condition for it after- 
wards, and what is very Remarkable, the General Know so 
well the Benefit of a Surprise that in the Close of the Ex- 
pedition, after all the forces had retreated to St. John's, he 
proposed to march back again to St. Augustine to Surprise 
it. However your Committee apprehend that the wrong 
steps, great as they were, might have been made amends for 
afterwards, tho in another Manner. They will, therefore, 
take notice of the other Causes of the 111 Success attending 
the Expedition. It hath been observed already that the 



118 

*Gencral left the place of Rendezvous before the Commodore 
or Col. Vanderdussen got to it, so that nothing was Con- 
certed between the Different Commands at the first setting 
out, and it appears by the Examination of the Colonel and 
the Lt. Colonel of the Carolina Regiment, that the General 
never called any one Council of War during the whole Ex- 
pedition afterwards. Nay, the most Important step he took, 
and which proved the most fatal, that is his leaving the 
Main and going off to the Island Anastatia, he did not make 
Known to the Colonel till after he was actually embarked, 
notwithstanding that he wrote him the very day before 
upon some other affair, and tho' he did the clay before Com- 
municate by Letter to Lieut. Col. Cook his Intention of 
going on board a Man-of-War. Yet it is observable that 
that Gentleman, in his Letter to Col. Vanderdussen, says 
the General had Let him no further into the Secret of his 
Expedition. A very Extraordinary thing Indeed when it 
is Considered that this was the principal, a very worthy 
and the most Experienced officer he had about him (tho' 
seldom to be found near his Person throughout the Expe- 
dition), and whose presence therein, particularly as an En- 
gineer, was not the Least Inducement this Government had 
to Engage in it. Tis true the General seems to have paid a 
great Regard to the Opinion of a Council of War, held on 
board the men-of-war 5th June, which declared the taking 
possession of Anastatia necessary towards the Reduction of 
St. Augustine, and offered to land 200 of their Men, If the 
General would land also 200 of his, in consequence of which 
he seems to have taken that fatal step. But tho' they were 
the best Judges what was Necessary to stop all Communi- 
cation by sea, yet they can by no means be allowed to be 
Judges of what was further necessary towards the Reduc- 
tion of the place, and he ought surely to have taken and 
preferred the opinion of the Land Officers therein. Indeed, 
when the General found himself Embarrassed on the Island 
and everything was at a stand, there was, by Col. Vander- 
dussen's means, a sort of accidental Conference between the 
* App. Nos. 25 and 57. 



119 

General, the Commodore himself and the Captains of the 
Men-of-War then on shore, wherein the General did go so 
far as to ask them what was to be done in the present Situ- 
ation of affairs, the Result of which hath been Largely 
related. And afterwards, when the Men-of-War were about 
to leave him, he writes to Col. Vanderdussen, 30th June, to 
give him his advice what were the best measures to be taken 
in Case the Gallies should not be attacked. But this seems 
to have been calculated only for his being Justified in doing 
what he then intended to do in Case the Colonel should 
advise him thereto. For when the Colonel A r anderdussen 
afterwards, in his Letter of the 4th July, had told him that 
he did not apprehend their Case to be so bad as to leave 
their affairs in the manner he had signified, and advised 
him in what manner to Continue the Blockade, the General, 
in answer thereto the same day, thanks him for giving his 
opinion, and tells him his advice would always have a great 
weight with him, but at the same time orders him positively 
to bring off the Troops. The General Landing at the Mouth 
of St. John's, was followed by very 111 Consequences. The 
distance from thence to St. Augustine appears to have been 
about 45 miles, and the Road so bad that after making many 
Causeys with much Labour over Creeks and Marsh Ground, 
in order to draw along one four pounder, he was at last 
obliged to leave it on the way ; whereas the distance from 
Picolata to St. Augustine appears to have been about 15 
miles, and the Road very good. At that place the General, 
tis well known to your Committee, was advised, when he 
was here, by those who were acquainted with it, to Land 
his forces, and it appears, by the Examination of Colonel 
Barnwell, that he had not forgot that advice, but did not 
approve of it, lest the leaving sight of the men-of-war 
should discourage his men. Your Committee Can easily 
enough apprehend that the leaving sight of the men-of-war 
on a Retreat might discourage men. But they can't con- 
ceive how it was possible that a short separation from men- 
of-war, which they knew to be near at hand, and in no 
danger at that time to be Blown off by bad weather, Should 



120 

discourage men that were going to act offensively, nor can 
the) 7 think there was any prudence in the General preferring 
a march ot 45 to 15 miles in so warm a climate, and at Such 
a Season of the year, and where beside the want of water 
very Little was to be had. The time the men were Em- 
ployed in Consequence of this Step in being obliged to fetch 
Provisions from the Craft 25 mjles at a time on their Backs 
was very Considerable, and the men were soon excessively 
fatigued in doing this, together with other marches, so that it 
is not to be Imagined they were fit for action with an equal 
number of fresh men. It is Manifest that, notwithstanding 
the Supply of Provisions which the Government of St. Au- 
gustine received with the Gallies before the General ap- 
peared before it, the place was still in a very great want of 
more, which was known to him, and it no way appears that 
there was any addition to the usual number of men but 
what came in those Gallies, which must have been about 
200. If then the General not willing to hazard his men by 
attacking the town, had been Content only with Keeping it 
close Blockaded a few weeks with his forces on the Main, 
whilst the men-of-war, who had undertook to do it, prevented 
any supply of Provisions by Sea, a speedy surrender must have 
ensued. Nothing can be more manifest, because the Gov- 
ernour, in his Letters sent to the Government at St. Mark's, 
acknowledged that he had but 3 days Provisions of Bread 
and flour left when our forces withdrew. Instead of doing 
this, we find the General, in a Sudden manner, Embarked 
with his own Regiment and about 100 Indians on board the 
men-of-war, leaving Col. Yanderdussen with the Carolina 
Regiment, then at Point Quartell, Lieut, Col. Cook, with 
about 50 men in Garrison at Diego, and 133 men, whites 
and Indians, on their March, Artillery, a Sergeant, and a 
lew men at the Palmetto Hut, to take care of what else he 
had Left there ; about 50 men in Garrison at Diego, and 
133 men, whites and Indians, on their March to Retake Fort 
Moosa, alarm the Spaniards in Augustine, and Blockade 
them on the Main. This being the Disposition of the Forces, 
having with the addition of 200 Seamen, also Landed and 



121 

made a Conquest, as he calls it, of the Island Anastatia 
(where there was not a man to oppose him), after a great 
delay 2 Batteries are Raised opposite to the Town and Cas- 
tle, and a great many shells thrown and IS pounders fired. 
But the distance such, all to no-purpose, the shot but Just 
go a-Cross the River, the Shells fall mostly short or Burst 
in the air. Notice is given by the Ringing of a Bell when- 
ever any are thrown, the People Retire without (he Town, 
and the small party on the Main being Cut off, the Inhab- 
itants are Daily Seen going in and out of the Town fetching 
Cattle. The Batteries are declared by the Engineers to be 
of no Service, and at Last no Longer thought so by the 
General himself. Hence he seems to have thought of new 
measures, and we find him writing to his Honour, the Lieut. 
Governour, in his Letter, dated 16th June, that he couldn't 
Besiege the Town and Castle with so small a force, and 
wishes for more men, and in that of the 24th June, solicit- 
ing for more men and Walker's Schooner, and in that of 
the 30th June, that he greatly wanted an assistance of Men, 
and afterwards, in that of the 19th July, writing in vindi- 
cation of his Conduct, he says that Augustine could not be 
Closely Shut up without dividing the Troops that besieged 
it, thereby amusing us with a word as if it was actually a 
siege that he had undertaken. To shew that the Disposition 
which the General made of the Troops was not either for a 
Siege or Blockade as well as to Illustrate some other thin gs; to 
some other things the Committee have annexed to their Re- 
port a Plan of the field of action, by which it will Readily be 
seen by the most Careless and Indifferent eye that the Dif- 
ferent forces could not timely assist or Support one another 
in Case of an attack, and that the General might have 
thrown Shells and fired Cannon forever to no purpose. It 
hath been observed thai the walls of the Castle were buill 
with soft Stone, or Rather a Cement of Shells and Sands cut 
out of the Earth in Squares, and Supposing even that with 
the Battering cannon the General could a1 that distance 
and across so wide a River have made a Breach in those 
Walls, what could have followed next hut to Stand and Look 



122 

at it. Notwithstanding this ill Conduct of the General, the 
Expedition would, in all probability, have Succeeded at last 
by meer good fortune, the Spaniards not having had the 
Spirit to attack any of our forces under all their disadvan- 
tages (for those which attacked the party at Moosa on such 
unequal terms were Negroes and Forsadoes and Convicts, 
animated with the Promise of Freedom), and such an Incli- 
nation there was in the Garrison-Men to desert that it seems 
1 were Shot at a time for attempting to do it. But the last 
Blow was given to the Success of the Expedition in a very 
Extraordinary way by the Commodore. When your Com- 
mittee calls to mind the Great Zeal with which the Commo- 
dore Promised the Committee of Conference with the General 
to give all the assistance in his power to the Enterprise then 
proposed, and said that he would answer for it the place 
Should have no Relief by Sea (which was the greatest En- 
couragment this Government had to Engage in it, and 
without which, indeed, it never would have engaged in it), 
they cannot Sufficiently Express their Surprize at the differ- 
ent Conduct which he shewed during the Expedition. The 
moment he had discovered the Carolina Regiment had 
taken Post upon Point Quarter], he Sends ashore a Reso- 
lution of a Council of War held on board him the day be- 
fore, 5th June, by the Commanders of his Majesty's Ships 
then Present, signifying that, upon having Examined their 
Pilots, it was their opinion (hat they could not stay longer 
than the 5th July, without the utmost hazard of his 
Majesty's Ships going on shore ; and that the question hav- 
ing been put what further Service they could do towards 
the Reduction of St. Augustine, it was agreed that If the 
General besieged that Fortress, and would spare 200 men 
at Least of his own Regiment, they would Land 200 men to 
attack and take Possession of Eustatia, in order to Cut of 
Communication by sea, which would answer the End of the 
ships, 'till the Season of the Year would admit of their 
Returning. It appears very odd to your Committee that 
the Commodore, who knew so well the Nature of this Expe- 
dition, should not only talk of a Siege, but attempt so early 



123 

to draw the General off from the Main. Your Committee 
are sensible that the Commodore told the Committee of Con- 
ference that he apprehended it not Safe for the Ships to lie 
upon the Coast in July. Yet he was assured that the last 
Hurricane, which we had on the 2nd August, 1728 was so 
early that it was Counted very Extraordinary in Point of 
time. But, however, it seems, upon Examination of the 
Pilots, it was thought his Majesty's Ships would run the 
utmost hazard in staying longer than the 5th July. This 
early declaration proved afterwards an obstruction to the 
Surrender of St. Augustine when the General demanded it, 
for tho' two-thirds of the People were for it on Condition of 
being suffered to go to the Havanna ; yet the Governourand 
Bishop, who had come at the knowledge of this prefixed 
time, stood out. The time of their staying here having been 
Limited to that day, it was Certainly to be Expected that 
the best use possible should have been made of the mean 
time to effect any service that presented, but after this, hav- 
ing Landed, the 12th June, 200 seamen from all the ships 
to share with the General in the Conquest of Anastatia, we 
find the Commodore always declaring himself ready to give 
any assistance, but never giving any at all. He promised, 
during his stay, to give all the assistance he could spare out 
of his Majesty's ships. A general attack at once on all sides 
upon the Town and Gallies having been proposed, is agreed 
on, and the General, in consequence of it, goes over to the 
Main with his Regiment, Colonel Yanderdussen renews the 
proposal of attacking the Gallies to the Sea .Commanders 
ashore, and Capt. Tyrrel is pitched on to Command the 
attack. The Commodore, being acquainted with it, is Sur- 
prised that a thing of such Consequence should be agreed 
on without his knowledge, he agrees, however, again that it 
shall be put in Execution, and sends his own Lieutenant 
ashore to Command the attack. Difficulties are Started 
there, and Col. Yanderdus-en must send an account to the 
Commodore of what Boats and Men lie can assist the Enter- 
prise with. This being done, he is afraid the affair is too 
hazardous, however leaves it to the Mature Deliberation of 



124 

the Gentlemen of the Sea and Land service on shore; they 
having had a Conference, agree that the Gallics Shall be 
attacked, provided there is water Enough in the Swash op- 
posite to the Castle for the Boats to pass, but at the very 
same time, on the 26th June, the Commodore, having called 
a Council of War aboard, Sends a Letter ashore, that it is 
Impracticable, without assigning any Reasons, and Imme- 
diately makes a signal to the Phoenix, which lay at Matan- 
sas, to leave the same and join him, altho' deserters from St. 
Augustine had given an account that some vessels were 
expected from the Havanna with Provisions, and tho' he 
had before sent the Province Schooner, which was bought 
by the Lieut. Governour, on purpose to lie at the Matansas, 
to leave the same and join him in over St. Augustine Bar 
to protect the Craft. The Swash is found to have water 
Enough for the Boats, the Colonel goes aboard the Com- 
modore and acquaints him with it, Capt. Fanshaw at the 
same time relates that lie had seen several vessels lying at 
the Musquitos. The Commodore, notwithstanding, tells 
Colonel Vanderdussen that he can give him no further 
assistance. The Colonel, representing the bad condition he 
should be Left in, proposes to him to Lighten one or both 
his Majesty's ships and send them over to Matansas Bar to 
Secure that passage. The Commodore calling a Council, it 
is Resolved they shall be got in there if Possible. A Strong 
Easterly wind Rising, and the Ships having Slipped their 
Cables and put to Sea, Col. Vanderdussen, in their absence, 
proposed to the Commodore's Lieutenant left on Shore with 
the Crew, to attack the Gallies, who tells him his orders are 
to attempt nothing in his absence. On their Return, the 
Phoenix and Wolf are sent to Sound the Bar of the Matan- 
sas, and their Pilots Report, upon oath, that there is not 
water Enough there for the Sloops, that if they could go in, 
they could not Lye safe from a Hurricane, or light more 
than one abreast, if attacked, which is Contradicted in every 
Particular by the Wolf's Lieutenant, that was Present at 
the Sounding. The Commodore, notwithstanding, writes 
the General and Col. Vanderdussen both, 'tis Impracticable 



125 

to get in those Sloops over the Bar of Matansas; the General 
thereupon, by the Colonel's desire, applied to the Commo- 
dore for the 200 Men there on Shore to be Left, with an 
officer of their own, on the Island, with the Carolina Regi- 
ment, till the Return of the Ships, in order to man one 
Battery on the South side of the Island, to guard the Pas- 
sage within the Matansas, and desires, if that could not be 
done, that he would assist to Save the Artillery, without 
which it was Impossible to be carried off. The Commodore 
having held a Council of War thereupon, it is declared 
that the Leaving 200 men cannot be Complied with, and no 
answer is given whether any assistance shall be given to the 
getting off the Artillery. A Sloop and 3 Launches (as expected) 
got into Augustine with Provisions. The Seamen are all 
taken off the Island, on the 5th July, without embarking of 
the Artillery, tho' strongly Solicited to give their assistance 
to do it, and all the Men-of-War, except the two Ships on the 
Carolina Station, set sail the same day in very fine weather. 
Can anything in the world have Exceeded all this? Where 
are now the 200 men, which, by the first Council of War, 
being Landed on Anastatia, were to have answered the end 
of the Ships till their Return after the Hurricane Season ? 
They have found out, it seems, at Last that they have not 
Provisions Enough, and that they have no Slops on board 
the fleet. How hath the Commodore Taken care that the 
place shall have no Relief by Sea, by ordering away the 
Phoenix from the Matansas 9 Days before the Short time 
Limited for his stay Expired, within which time Relief got 
in while the Province's Schooner, which was bought on 
purpose for that end, was lying, by his orders, within Au- 
gustine Bar, and Left to Shift for herself. Your Committee 
beg leave to observe as to the design formed to attack the 
Gallies, that it was in itself a Service of the highest Conse- 
quence to have been effected, that the Execution of i( seems 
to have been very Rationally founded, that the Seamen on 
Shore (who were a Company of brave men) are said to 
have discovered thegreatest Impatience, as well as all others 
to be Engaged in it, and that it had all the Probability of 



126 

Success which a thing of that nature could admit of. But 
tho' all others Seem to have approved of that Enterprise, 
the Commodore was afraid it was too Hazardous. Your 
Committee have pointed out what appears to them to be 
the Principal causes of the ill Success of the Expedition, and 
the^v apprehend it to be very Clear upon the whole, that 
Neither the General nor the Commodore have taken any 
proper or Vigorous Step towards the Reduction of St. Au- 
gustine, or done what they engaged to do, and therefore 
they are of opinion that this Government hath been greatly 
misled by both. Some Expeditions have failed for want of 
a good understanding between Different Commands, but in 
this nothing is to be heard of like it, and Particularly as to 
that of the Carolina Regiment, not only the most perfect 
obedience appears to have been paid by Col. Vanderdussen 
to all the General's orders, but a Constant forwardness in 
him to propose, assist, and do anything that tended to bring 
things to action ; and the Failure of this Expedition is 
Somewhat the more Surprising, as the General had not only 
all but more than he asked to assist him therein, except the 
Rangers, which not being to be had in time, were omitted, 
as he himself proposed, and Indeed could not have been of 
any Additional Service, for it appears to your Committee, 
by the Examination of the Publick Treasurer and the Com- 
missary General, that there have been employed in this 
Service, besides 2 Companies Raised (but not sent in time), 
10 Companies, including officers and Doctors, 512 — A 
Schooner to Lye at the Matansas, 54 — Volunteers and their 
Negroes, 47 — Craft, Viz: 3 Sloops, one of which attended 
the Men-of-War, 20 — 14 Schooners and Decked Boats (of 
which 3 to carry one of the General's Companies from Port 
Royal, each of which had at least 4 men with arms, and 
some had more), 5G .... 70 Swivel ( Suns (these did not all 
attend at once). The Expence of which, together with the 
other articles in the General's Estimate, and many others 
added to them afterwards, amounts to £63,295 : 13 : 2J in 
Cash paid, besides the value of the powder, Bullets, and 
many other Stores, taken out of the Public Magazine, and 



127 

by the Mearest Computation there was about 200 In- 
dians present in the Expedition, of which most that were 
of any Consequence, particularly the Chicasaws, went at 
the Instance of the Lieut. Governour. On the other hand, 
indeed the General appears to have carried with him about 
360 or 370 men of his own Regiment and about 90 men 
more, Highlanders, and Rangers hired, with a very small 
Quantity of Provisions and ammunition ; for he Borrowed 
both of them from the Mcn-of-War, bought a Cargo of Pro- 
visions by chance, from a New Yorker that came to trade 
with the Forces before St. Augustine, and had not one Barrel 
of the 600 Barrels of powder which arrived at St. Simon's in 
the Store Ship from England, before he set out upon the 
Expedition, until 4 days before he left Anastatia Island. 
The General finding by Letters which he Received from 
Lieut. Governour Bull, in the close of the Expedition, that 
the management of it was not approved of by him, wrote 
Back a Long Letter, dated 19th July, in Vindication of it. 
Tho' your Committee can see nothing in it that appears to 
have any Force, yet, as the General says therein that he 
Believes it will clear up all objections concerning the same, 
they have thought themselves obliged, in Justice to him, to 
lay it candidly at Length before the House, to whose Con- 
sideration it is Submitted. In the close of that Letter the 
General says that, with Respect to the affair at Moosa, he 
Sends Depositions by which his Honour would find that the 
occasion of losing that party was the disobeying his orders. 
Two of those Depositions (as they are called) are Capt. 
Hugh McKay's and Lieut. Letogg's, who made their Escape 
out of that Fort, and are intended to prove that it was the 
General's orders that that party should not lodge in the 
Fort because it was demolished, but camp every night in 
the Thickets, and that Col. Palmer, notwithstanding, who 
had the Chief command, ordered them to Lodge within the 
Fort, Another is said to be one Sergeant Clark's, who 
Vouches for the Bravery of the Captain at the tine' of the 
attack upon that party. But as the papers called Deposi- 
tions do not appear to your Committee, they are not laid 



128 

before the House. Your Committee think themselves 
obliged, iu Justice to the memory of that Brave Man, now 
dead, to Vindicate him from a charge so dishonourable. 
Your Committee must remind that, on the 8th .June, Col. 
Vanderdussen Received an Express from the General thai 
he had sent a Party (which was that sent under Col. rainier) 
to Retake possession of Fort Moosa; and it is observable 
that, after that party was cut off, the General in none of his 
Letters to the Lieut. Governour so much as hints at any 
disobedience of orders, until bis Honour had, in a Letter to 
him, dated 28th June, set forth the Imprudence of sending 
that party there. The General in his Letter to the Lieut. 
Governour, the 16th June, (the very day after their being 
cut off), only says that Col. Palmer with that party being- 
Left to alarm the Spaniards on the Land side, was surprised 
by them; and in his Letter, dated the 30th June, he says 
that he had recovered Moosa. It is certain that the Gen- 
eral's orders to this party were to go to Moosa, that they 
were to alarm the Spaniards in St. Augustine as often as 
they could, and when they saw his signal upon Anastatia, 
they were to fire that night upon the Town. It appears also 
by the General's Letters to the Magistrates of Frederica, 30th 
June, that he sent them on purpose to Blockade the place, 
and it will be Readily seen by the Plan, before mentioned, 
that nothing of all this could be done anywhere else but at 
or in Sight of Moosa. At the same time it is as Cer- 
tain that Col. Palmer had orders from the General to camp 
every night in the Woods, and we find that when the party 
got so far as Moosa, he gave notice of it to them all, but not- 
withstanding all the men, except the Rangers, entered and 
Camped within the Fort. The Command is Disputed, and 
Capt. McKay opens Col. Vanderdussen's Letter directed to 
the Commanding Officer at Fort Moosa, and answers as 
Such. Col. Palmer, having no Commission, is not obeyed 
by any one. Put the Rangers whom only it Looks as if it 
was Intended that he should Command, always did encamp 
without. If the General Intended otherwise, then surely it 
was a great oversight to Invest him with a Pare Verbal 









129 

command, as if he did Intend it to be so. In that case he 
Certainly deceived the Colonel, because tho' he verbally 
ordered the said McKay to follow his directions, ye1 he 
might understand them to be given to him as Captain of 
the Highland Rangers (as he is Styled in the above papers, 
called Depositions), tho' not as any thing Else. This your 
Committee Remark because of all that they have Examined 
they could not find one that certainly knows in what Ca- 
pacity he was. One said he was called Adjutant, another, 
Captain of Rangers, and another, Ensign of Foot, but all 
agree that he took upon him as much Command as any, 
tho' none knew who had the Chief command really. How- 
ever the Colonel gives his advice, tells them that the Span- 
iards could from the Castle count their numbers almost to a 
Man, that the place would prove a grave to them, and takes 
uncommon Fains every morning early to put them at Least 
upon their guards and to stand to their arms. But all to 
no purpose. Your Committee will go so far as to Suppose 
that it was the true Intention of the General that the whole 
party, Horse and foot, should sleep every night in the 
thickets; Grant they had accordingly done so ; could that 
have prevented the fate which they met with ? Can it Pos- 
sibly be Imagined that the Spaniards could be at the Least 
loss at any time on a, narrow neck of Land where to find 
them? Had they not Indians to watch their motions and 
fix the very spot of Ground where they encamped? Did 
not the General himself help that Discovery by employing 
those Rangers to catch Horses for his own use at so much 
per head, and win; had actually, with the Indians, drove 
up about 100? Was there any one step taken to support 
the party'.' If the General did not think it safe even to 
Reconnoitre St. Augustine with Less than both Regiments, 
how can it be conceived that he should think this handful! 
of Men Sufficient to Blockade it, and that with 8 lbs. of 
Bread to each man? Whoever knew Col. Palmer knows 
that he was a man of great Courage, that he had rather too 
much fire, and when he offered to go in and Burn the Town of 
St. Augustine, the General termed it a hot-headed action 
9 



130 

(tho' it appears, by the Examination of Mr. Jones, that the 
Colonel might have entered the town where he proposed to 
do it), yet when the General proposed to send him with that 
party, this hot-headed man told the General they were too 
few for the purpose. The General Replies that if he was 
unwilling, he would send one of his own officers. The 
Colonel scorned to have 1 his courage called in question, and 
consents to go, Bat tells him he was going to Sacrifice those 
men. The General promised indeed thereupon to send 
assistance from Anastatia, but sends him none. The 
Colonel, however, defended the Fort, and that in so brave a 
Manner under the disadvantages of Men half asleep and 
undressed, attacked by greatly Superior numbers, that it is 
Evident if the General had not made Several Breaches in 
the Fort and demolished the (late, lie would have main- 
tained his Post. Your Committee purposely avoid taking 
any particular Notice of many Imprudent steps of the Gen- 
eral in the Expedition, some of which mighl have proved 
fatal to the Forces, as also of his hard usage of the Carolina 
Regiment, and ill Treatment of the Gentlemen Volunteers, 
and the Indians in many Instances, and shall leave all those 
things, together with many Instances which occur to the 
Narrative, to the private Sentiments of the House. 

Your Committee have now gone through with the Enquiry 
which this House directed them to make into the Causes of 
the Disappointment of Success in the Expedition against St. 
Augustine; and (Jen. Oglethorpe having had (as hath been 
observed allready) a greater assistance given him than he 
Required as necessary for making an Immediate attack 
upon that place, and no instance having been found wherein 
the Colonel, or any other officers of the Carolina Regiment, 
neglected or Refused to obey his orders, they do Unani- 
mously agree with the Committee of his Majesty's Honour- 
able Council (who joined with them in this Enquiry) that 
neither this Government nor the forces in the pay thereof 
haVe been in the last degree the Cause of the ill Success of 
the Expedition. Your Committee think it would be unpar- 
donable in them, after all that hath been said, not to make 



i;;i 

mention of those that appear to them to have merited any 
thing in this Expedition. And first, they cannot but in 
the most grateful manner take notice of Col. Vanderdussen, 
who appears to have acted in the new Raised Regiment, in 
Several duties which the Nature of his Command did not 
oblige him to, who not only punctually obeyed the General 
in everything, but took uncommon pains to bring things to 
action, and made Several proposals for that purpose, as well 
as to Continue a Blockade, which the General calls hand- 
some proposals, who when ordered by the General to carry 
oft 1 his Train and Transports from Anastatia with the least 
Loss he could prevent, and to Spoil rather than leave the 
Artillery, yet, consulting the Honour of his Country, with 
good Conduct carried off all the Artillery, &c, which the 
General had declared impossible to be done without the 
Commodore's assistance, and preserved the same, together 
with all his Men and all the Craft in the imminent Danger 
they were in at that time, who having afterwards landed 
upon Point Quartell, protected a* party of the General's men 
from the Spanish Gallies, and afterthey had Retreated from 
that Point (having first, by the General's orders, burnt their 
provisions, etc., and sent and brought off several Warlike 
Stores which they had Left behind them) happily coni- 
pleated his Retreat. Your Committee must also acknowledge 
that there were many brave officers as well as men in the 
Regiment who appear to have discovered a great zeal 
for action. Capt. Warren, (apt. Townshend and Capt. 
Laws, The Captains of the Men-of- War, with the Seamen 
who were with the forces upon Anastatia, are all allowed to 
have been very zealous also, and wanted nothing more than 
to be at Liberty to attack the Gallies, but were always Re- 
strained by Councils of War held on board the Commodore. 
The 3d July, when it was Resolved in a Council of War not 
to Leave the 200 Seamen on shore, as was desired, but to 
embark them the next day, the words are added to that 
Resolution, "and if his Majesty's Service Shall bethought 
to Suffer for want of the Seamen's being Left on Shore, if is 
the humble desire of every officer Present that a proper 



132 

Enquiry may be made where the fault lies, thai the Person 
or Persons who have not done their Duty, or deceived 
others, may be punished according to their Demerits." 



STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,^ 

' )ffice Secretary of State. \ 

I, James N. Lipscomb, Secretary of State, do hereby certify 
that the foregoing is a true Copy of the Report made by the 
Committee to the General Assembly or Parliament on the 
Oglethorpe Expedition, as Recorded in this Office in Volume 
7, Council Journal, Upper House, Pages 421 to 485, Inclu- 
sive. 

Witness my hand and the Great Seal of the State, at 
Columbia, S C., this 21st Day of June, A. P. 188:5, and in 
the one hundred and seventh year of American Independ- 
ence. \ 

[seal.] JAS. X. LIPSCOMB, Secy. State. 



133 

In further confirmation of the statements in foregoing 
Report, the following extracts are given from the So. Ca. 
Gazette, of that period, printed in Charleston: 

♦Letter from Frederica, Dee. 20, 1739. The Spaniards 

having invaded this Province and killed some of the inhabi- 
tants and also having fomented an insurrection of the negroes 
in Carolina who murdered several families there, Gen. Ogle- 
thorpe with a party Composed of Indians, Georgians and 
Regular Troops, on 8th I nst. passed the river St. John's which 
divides Florida from Georgia. The Spaniards abandoning the 
several posts they held on that river and the sea coasts near 
it. he made an inroad into the Spanish Florida, marched 
halfway to Augustine. The Spanish horse with a body of 
Negroes and Indians advanced within 3 miles, as if they 
intended to attack our men, but the Gen. ordering the 
Chickasaw Indians to charge them and advancing himself 
with the whole body, the Spanish horse retired to Augus- 
tine, and the Indians and Negroes took shelter in a fort not 
far from it. The Indians pursued them 7 miles that night. 
The Gen. stay'd 3 days on the Spanish Main and the 
Indians annoyed the Spaniards, making inroads up to their 
forts, killing or taking all they could find in the open 
country. The Gen. and Party returned here on the 18th 
without the loss of one man. 

♦Charleston, Feb. !» — We hear from Savannah in Geo. thai 
Gen. Oglethorpe has taken 2 forts from the Spaniards, one 
called Picolah he burnt, the other the Garrison called St. 
Francis de la Padra, the garrison consisted of 11 Spaniards 
and one Indian, who were made Prisoners. 

Proclamation by Genl. Oc;lethorpe, Apl. 1, 1740. 

First section empowers Col. Vanderdussen to hold courts 
martial. "And I do further declare that all negroes which 
have deserted from So. Ca., and which shall be taken in 
Florida during the; said Expedition shall be delivered up to 

*See page 114. 



I'M 

their respective owners on paying five pounds Sterling per 
head to the captors. If the officers of the Ships of war shall 
land men to assist the land forces, one moiety of all 
plunder taken in such service shall go to the officers and 

men in his Majesty's sea service. All plunder taken and 
accruing to officers and men in Land Service shall be 
divided among officers and men of the Land Service in the 
same manner and proportion as prizes are distributed 
among officers and men in his Majesty's Sea Service accord- 
ing to the rules of his Majesty's Navy. And whatever 
share of plunder shall come to me as Genl. and Commander 
of the Forces, I will apply tin; same totally towards the relief 
of such men as may happen to he maimed or wounded in 
said Expedition and towards assisting the widows and 
children of any of said forces that may be killed in 
service and for rewarding such a- shall perform any 
distinguished brave action Xo Indian enemy to he taken 
as a slave, for all Spanish and Indian prisoners belong to 
his Majesty and are to lie treated as Prisoners and not as 
slaves." 

By Vincent Pearse, Commander of his Majesty's ship 
Flamborough : " As I am willing to give all due encour- 
agement to an undertaking so much for the service of his 
Majesty and the welfare and security of this Province, I will 
pay all seamen who have belonged to his Majesty's ships 
any wages due if they will return. &c, likewise if they will 
enlist in the land force-." 

April 3, 1740. — Notwithstanding the great expences this 
country has been put to, for securing itself against the Span- 
iards, the ( Jeneral Assembly have empov; ered his Honour, the 
Lieut. Governour, to raise a Regiment of Foot and a Troop 
of Rangers to assist Gen. Oglethorpe in the siege of St. 
Augustine, in conjunction with several of his Majesty's 
ships of war — as also to provide sloops, boats, guns, ammu- 
nition, provisions for Indians, and all other necessaries for 
that undertaking. Alex. Vanderdussen Esq. is appointed 
Colonel of the said forces. We hear that a great number 
of gentlemen design to go as Volunteers and take a share 



135 

in the honour of that Expedition at their own expenses, 
all showing the greatest alacrity for the service of his 
Majesty and the good of their country, so that from the 
union of strength by sea and by land, we have no reason 
to doubt of success to the undertaking. We hear, further, 
that Capt. Richard Wright, having offered himself to go as 
a A^olunteer, has received a Commission to head all the Vol- 
unteers ; and that ('apt. Pearce, the Commodore here, hath 
sent the Spence, man-of-war, ('apt. haws, Commander, to 
Providence to convey over, Mortar pieces, Bond) Shells, &e. 
Tuesday (2d April) being the day appointed for the review 
of the Regiment of this town, and the 2 troops of Horse 
Guards, they were reviewed before the Lieut. Governour, 
Gen. Oglethorpe, and all the Hon. Council, who were ex- 
ceedingly delighted with their magnificent appearance and 
dexterity at exercise. On same day Gen. Oglethorpe sailed 
for Georgia, and was saluted by the guns from Granville 
and Broughton Bastions. * * * We hear the following, 
gentlemen have received commissions as Captains in the 
Regiment of Foot : 

Capt. Wm. Stobo. 

Capt. Malachy Glaze. 

Capt Ephraim Mikell. 

We hear that Capt. Jas. McPherson has received a com- 
mission appointing him to command the Troop of Rangers, 
and that his brother, William McPherson, is appointed 
Lieutenant of the same; also, that the Lieut. Governour 
hath granted a commission to Capt. John Bee, Jr., to com- 
mand the 2d Company of Volunteers in the Expedition. 

Ueiiee, Indian Town, April 11. — Gen. Oglethorpe arrived 
here late in the night (to meet a large party of the Chief 
warriours of the Cherokee Indians), and proceeds imme- 
diately for the Spanish frontiers, where several Nations of 
Indians are on their march to join him. 

This is to give notice to all gentlemen who have sub- 
scribed their names to go as Volunteers in the Expedition 



m 

against St. Augustine, that they have liberty from the Gen- 
eral to take any number of slave-, capable of doing duty, 
with them, who are to be provided for by the Public, and 

in case any person shall lose their slaves in the Expedition, 
shall be paid '2'AH for such slave killed. 

Ami whereas the Lieut. Gov. has made provision for such 
Vols, as are willing to go, This is to give notice they are 
to embark from Charleston by 10th inst. and For further 
encouragement of any other gentlemen who are inclinable, 
the names of those already entered are as follows : 

Richard Wright, Jona. Bryan, Robt. Wright, Jno. 
Midbrain, Win, Walters, Saml. Lavington, Thos. Wigg, 
Thos. Rivers, Isaac Nichols, Benj. Donning, Win. Mervin, 
Willoughby West, Chas. Buttler, Stephen Nichols, David 
Jones Thos. Buttler, Thos. Fitch, Benj. Fuller, Jos. Ladson, 
Jos. Bryan, Jos. Oswell, Jno. Bee, Jr., Robt. Yonge, Jos. 
Wilkinson, Elisha Buttler, Thos. Elliott, Thos Farr, Nat. 
Barnwell, Jno. Barnwell, Benj'n. Harvey, Isaac Child. 

May 10. — By letters from Fort Frederick, Port Royal, we 
hear that ('apt. Norbury is sailed with his Officers and part 
of his Company to join his Regt. at St. Simon Cam}) in Geo. 
to embark with the rest of the forces to attack St. Augustine. 

•June 7. — We hear from tie' Camp before, St. Augustine, 
that Capt. Malachy Glaze, Capt. of one of the Companies 
<•)' Vols, lately died there of the flux. 

On 16 July, 1740, Lieut. Gov. Bull called together the 
Council and Commons House of Assembly to lay before 
them "information received of the proceedings of our 
Forces employed in the Expedition," that is of the failure 
of the Expedition, and the Assembly promised to provide 
anything that might be necessary for protection, &c. 



137 

[The following is the Appendix referred to in the foregoing 
Report. It does not however (as here printed) extend beyond No. 
37. The remainder is not extant, or can not be found. 8ee letter 
from the Office of the Secretary of State at the end of tins Appendix.] 



APPENDIX 



No. J. — Extract of General Oglethorpe's Letter to Lieut. 
Governour Bull, dated 26th September, 1739 : 

Sir : I have Just now Received orders from his Majesty, 
dated loth June, to annoy the Subjects of Spain in the 
Best manner I am able. I have sent up an Officer into the 

Cherokee Nation to and to Raise a Number of Indians, 

as far as a Thousand, to March down into the Spanish Ter- 
ritories. I have also Sent Commissions into the Creek 
Nation, from whence 1 have received advice that there is 
200 Men along, with whom is Tooanahowi, that are Marched 
against the Floridas. I have sent an Express to permit and 
order them to attack the Spaniards, and I believe they will 
Strike the first Blow. I hope the people of Carolina will 
give the Necessary assistance, that we may begin with the 
Siege of Augustine before more Troops arrive there from 
Cuba. 

Your most Obedient and Humble Servant, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

No. 2. — Extract of General Oglethorpe's Letter to Lieut. 
Governour Bull, dated 6th October, 1739: 

Sir: Captain Thompson is arrived sate, and on board 
him Capt. McKay, with Fresh advices from England. All 
is in action : I hope the Assembly will come into taking 
this favourable Opportunity of getting Kid of their Neigh- 
bours at St. Augustine. They shall have my utmost assist- 
ance. 

Your most Obedient and Humble Servant, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 



l::s 

\o. 3. — Extract of General Oglethorpe's Letter to Lieut. 
Governour Bull, dated 20th October, 1739 : 

Sir : I shall do the utmosl in my power for taking Au- 
gustine before Succours come from Spain ; it' we do not 
attack, we shall be attacked. I hope for your Assistance 
with the Assembly, and should be glad to hear from you. 
I am, Sir, your most Obedient Humble Servant, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 



No. 4. — The committee to whom the Report of the Com- 
mittee appointed on his Honour the Lieut. Governour's 
Message relating to the Assisting General Oglethorpe in the 
Executing of his Majesty's Expected Orders to make Re- 
prisals against the Spaniards by forming a Siege against St. 
Augustine, was Recommitted to Confer with a Committee 
of the Upper House ; 

Report: That your Committee concur with his Honour 
the Lieut. Governour's Sentiments that the Protection 
our Deserted Slaves have met with by the Spaniards at 
Augustine, has Encouraged many others to make the like 
attempts, and even to rise in Rebellion, and that the Demo- 
lition of that place would, in a very great Measure, tend to 
free us from the Like danger for the future, as well as from 
other Inconveniences which his Majesty's Subjects of this 
Province have been and are Exposed to from that Garrison. 

Your Committee therefore recommend and agree that in 
Case General Oglethorpe shall think proper to form a De- 
sign of Besieging St. Augustine, and shall communicate his 
Scheme to the General Assembly of this Province, and 
shall make it appear that the same is probable of being 
Attended with Success of taking or Demolishing that Gar- 
rison, that then the Publick of this Province will engage 
to give General Oglethorpe the besi Assistance they Reason- 
ably can to put his Scheme in Execution. Your Committee 
also recommend that a Message may go to his Honour, the 
Lieut. Governour, to acquainl him with this Report, and to 



139 

desire his Honour to send a Copy thereof to General Ogle- 
thorpe by the first Opportunity. 

No. 5. — The Lieut. Governour Bull's Letter to General 
Oglethorpe, Dated the 13th December, 1730: 

Sir: As you was pleased to communicate to me your 
Intentions of going to Attack the Castle of St. Augus- 
tine, I laid that affair before the General Assembly, and 
desired they would consider what Assistance the Province 
could give to Such an Undertaking that was consistent with 
our own Safety, and herewith send you the Report of the 
Committee on that affair, agreed to by Both Houses. 

I am, Sir, your most Obedient and most Humble Servant, 

WILLIAM BULL. 

No. 7. — General Oglethorpe's Letter to the Lieut. Gover- 
nour Bull : 

Frederick, 23d January, 1739-40. 

Sir: A Detachment of his Majesty's Troops under my 
command and a Party of Indians, on the 8th of this Month, 
attacked and took the Port of Picolata, on the South Side 
of St. John's River or St. Mathews, without resistance, after 
which we began to attack the Port St. Francis, on the North 
Side of the River, about 10 in the morning. The Spaniards 
defended themselves very vigorously till 5 in the Evening, 
when they surrendered Prisoners of war. 1 send you by 
Capt. Heron the Particulars, and am, Sir, your very Humble 
Servant, JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

P. S. — These Forts command the Ferry over the River 
St. John's or St. Mathews, and the passage from Augustine 
to the Indian Nation and Gulf of Mexico. 

No. 8. — Extract of General Oglethorpe's Letter to Lieut. 
Governour Bull : 



L40 

Frederica, 24th January, L739-40. 

Sib : I have since, in the Fort oi St. Francis, taken several 
Prisoners, and by their Examinations find that the place 
has been greatly strengthened and a covered way having 
been made round the Fort, which they think will be soon 
finished. The longer we delay attacking them the Stronger 
they will be. I have held a Council of War, by whose ad- 
vice I have made out the preparation Necessary, according 
to the present Circumstances. 1 send up Capt. Heron, who 
will wait upon yon with this, and will also lay before the 
General Assembly the Assistance Necessary for bringing 
this Undertaking to a Happy Issue. 

Your most Obedient Humble Servant, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

No. 9. — General Oglethorpe's estimate of the Assistance 
Necessary from this Province towards the Siege of St. Au- 
gustine, pursuant to his Letter, dated 24th January, 1730-40 : 

The Estimate of the Assistance Accompanied the same. 
and consisted of one Regiment of foot of 600 men, 3 Troops of 
Rangers, 105 men, 800 Negroes for Pioneers, 160 white Men 
to guard and oversee them. 58 Men for Officers, &c, among 
the Indians, Months' Provisions for all those and for 400 
Men of his own Regiment, and 3 Months' Provisions for 
2,000 Indians, as also one Gun, Hatchet, and Blanket, for 
each of them, besides those other Necessary's mentioned in 
his former Letter, dated 2-)th December, together with an 
(R.) account of the forces upon the Establishment at St. 
Augustine, which the General had from the Spanish pris- 
oners taken at St. Francis, consisting of 024, besides the 
Town Militia, Indians, Negroes and Transports. 

No. 10. — General Oglethorpe's account of the Forces at 
St. Augustine, according to the Information he had Re- 
ceived from the Prisoners he had taken. 

Xo. 11. — Report of the Committee of Conference on the 
proposals of an Expedition to St. Augustine. 



141 

That General Oglethorpe's proposals of Assistance from 
this Government will amount to an expense of the Sum 
£209,492, which your Committee are of Opinion is an Ex- 
pence too great for this Province to Bear. 

But the Committee of this House Recommend that if 
General Oglethorpe will undertake the Expedition against 
St. Augustine, and will certify to the General Assembly of 
this Province that the same is probable of being attended 
with Success of taking that Garrison, with an assistance 
from this Government of an Expence of £120,000, to be 
Employed by this Government, That the Publick of this 
Province are willing to be at that Expence, and provide for 
the same. 

No. 12. — Report of the Committee on ways and means 
for Raising of the sum of £120,000 towards assisting Gen- 
eral Oglethorpe in an Expedition against the Spaniards at 
St. Augustine, who had it in charge, from this House to 
Consider and make a Calculation of what Number of Men, 
Quantity of Ammunition, &c, can be Raised for the said 
sum. 

A s. d. I s. d. 
One Regiment, to Consist of a Colonel, for 

one month's pay 150 

A Lieut. Colonel, for a month's pay 100 

A Major, for 1 month's pay 80 

An Adjutant, for 1 month's pay 30 

Two Surgeons, for 1 month's pay, t' : >»> each.. LOO 

A Surgeon's mate, for 1 month's pay L'o 

A Regimental Commissary and two Clerks, 

to take care of the provisions, 1 mouth's 

pay 70 



Their pay for 1 month is 555 

Which, at (i months at that Kate, amounts 

to the sum of 3,330 

Eight Companys of Foot, consisting each of: 

A Captain, for one month's pay, at 50 

A Lieutenant, for 1 month's pay, at 3a 

A Ensign, for 1 month's play, at 25 

2 Sergeants, at £15 each per month, is ; j<» 



142 



2 Corporals, at £13 each per month, is 26 

1 Drum, for a month's pay 13 

52 private men. at £12 each man. their pay 

1 month is <;24 

60 men, their whole pay for ! month is 7.98 

For 8 Company s for the same time at that 
Rate is 6,384 

Which, for the whole for 6 months, is 38,304 

One Troop of Horse, to Consist of: 

I Captain, for I month's pay, at 60 

1 Lieutenant, tor 1 month's pay, at 30 

1 Cornet, for 1 month's pay, at 25 

1 Quarter Master, for 1 month's pay, at 20 

1 Drum and Trumpet, fori month's pay 16 

44 private Men, at £16 per month for each... 704 

Man and Horse : 

4!) Men, their whole pay for 1 month is 855 ... 

Which, for (i months at that Hate, is 

PlONKERS, Viz : 

For 300 white men, if they are not to be had, 

then 400 slaves, their pay for 6 months.... 
Provisions for thk Regiment and 
Pioneers, Viz : 
For 447 Bushels of Corn per month, for 6 

months, 2,682 bushels which, at 8s. per 

Bushel, is 1,07-' 16 

For 955 lbs. of rice per day, for 6 months, 

is 171,000 lbs., which, at 35s. per 100, is.... 3,008 - r > 
For 955 lbs. of Beef, per day for 6 months. 

, is 171,000 lbs., which, at £5 per 100, is 8,595 ... 

For 753 Hands to carry the corn and rice 

in, at 10 Shillings per Barrel 376 10 

Presents and Provisions foe L,000 
Indians, Viz : 

For 1,000 Guns, at £5 apiece 5,000 

For 1,000 Hatchets, at 10 Shillings 500 

For 1,000 Blankets, at 50s 2,500 

For l.ooo Bushels of Corn, for 4 months, at 

8s. per Bushel l.ooo 

For 571 barrels, to carry the Corn in, at lo 

Shillings apiece 285 lo 

— — 0,8s:. in 



5,130 



24,000 



13,052 II 



17,150 



143 

For Transports. 
Ammunition and Utensils for the Pioneers, 

Viz: 
For 20 Pettiaugars, at £90 per month, each, 

for 6 months 10,800 ... 

For 10,000 lbs. wt. of Gun Powder, at £40 

per 100 4,000 ... 

For 20,000 lbs. wt, of Bullets, at £9 per 100... 1,800 ... 

For 20.000 flints, at £5 per 1,000 50 ... 

For 500 Spades, Axes, Hoes or Bills 500 ... 

For a Surgeon's Chest of Medicines 500 

For Levy money for raising the Recruits... 1,000 

Fur ( lontingencys 1.5C0 

12 Cannon, IS pounders, with 1,800 Shot, Match and 

Utensils 7,047 19 ... 

Total 120,000 

No. 13. — Letter from Lieutenant Governor Bull to ( reneral 
Oglethorpe : 

The 10th day of February, 1739-40. 

Sir : Inclose to you the Resolution of this Province for 
your perusal, and concurrence, provided you approve of 
them, and we shall expect, with impatience, your answer, 
and take our future Measures accordingly. 

I am. Sir, your most obedient and most humble Servant, 

WILLIAM BULL. 

No. 14. — Certain Articles proposed to be Stipulated with 
( reneral Oglethorpe. 

The Committee of Conference to consider of laying before 
his Honour, the Lieutenant Govornour, what number of 
Men, Provisions, etc., can be furnished out of the Sum 
agreed on by both Houses, and under what Regulations 
they should be put. 

A.GREE AND REPORT. 

1st. That the Plan of Assistance hereto annexed, is the 
Utmost Effort the Publick of this Province can make, to 



144 

Assist Genera] Oglethorpe in forming the Siege of St. Au- 
gustine, not exceeding the Term of Six Months. 

It is therefore proposed by the Committee and recom- 
mended to his Honor, the Lieutenant ( rovernor, to be Stip- 
ulated with Genera] Oglethorpe. 

2nd. That the Regiment of Foot, and Troop of Horse to 
be Supplied by this Government, shall be Deemed auxil- 
iaries to Genera] Oglethorpe, and a distinct Body of Troops 
belonging to tins Government, which with the white or 
Negro Pioneers in the Pay of this Government, shall be 
Subject to the Orders of this Government. 

3rd. That the Officers of the Regiment of Fool and Troop 
of Horse belonging to this Government, shall in all Coun- 
cils of War have equal Votes with the officers of the same 
Title and Rank in General Oglethorpe's Regiment, But 
shall give Place and Precedence to General Oglethorpe's 
Officers of the same Rank. 

4thly. That all offences committed by any of the Troops 
from this Government Shall be finally determined and 
punished by the Officers of their own Regiment only. 

othly. That all Negroes employed or carried from the 
Province of South Carolina during the time of the Expe- 
dition, and until the return of the Troops, shall have liberty 
to pass and repass without interruption, or being Subject to 
forfeiture. 

6thly. That the Plunder taken (except what is taken by 
the Indians) Shall be secured and distributed according to 
the Judgment of a Council of War, consisting as well of the 
Officers of the Troops raised by this Government, as of the 
officers belonging to General Oglethorpe's Regiment; But 
that the Negroes which have hitherto deserted from this 
Government, shall not be Deemed Plunder, but shall be 
returned to this Governmenl ; for which a Salvage Shall be 
allowed the Captors. 

7thly. That as the Expense proposed to be Entered into 
by this Province, is limited to the Sum of £120,000, Cur- 
reni Money, and as it is not Certain whether the Men and 
Negroes can be raised al the Pay mentioned in the annexed 



145 

Schedule, it is to be understood and so agreed, that if the 
Men and Slaves cannot be procured at those Rates, that this 
Government shall not be under any obligations to raise the 
said Men at any other Rate or pay. 

Sthly. And as it will not be thought prudent to weaken 
this Province, by raising the whole number o'f white men 
in this Province, it is proposed that the greatest part thereof 
shall be raised in Virginia, or North Carolina, and that the 
levies be begun with all possible Expedition, after receiving 
a satisfactory answer from General Oglethorpe, and his Sub- 
scribing these Proposals, and transmitting them to his 
Honour, the Lieutenant Governor. 

9th. That the Place of Rendezvous in Georgia for the 
Troops to be raised by this Government, be settled by his 
Honour, the Lieutenant Governor, and General Oglethorpe, 
so that the Troops may be immediately transported thither. 
And 

10th. That General Oglethorpe do transmit to his Honour, 
the Lieutenant Governour,with his answer to these proposals 
the Number of Effective Men in the Town and Castle of St. 
Augustine, according to his best Information ; and the state 
of that Garrison as to Provisions ; and also the Number of 
Effectives he proposes to raise, to joyn with the Troops of 
this Province in the Undertaking. 

No. 15. — General Oglethorpe's Letter to Lieutenant Gov- 
ernor Bull : 

Frederic a, the 27th of February, 1739-40. 

Sir: I received your Letter with the Papers inclosed, 
and if I Can Settle things here so that the Frontiers may 
not suffer by my absence, I will come up to Charles Town, 
and consult with you and the General Assembly, if not, I 
shall write more fully. 

I am. Sir, your most humble Servant, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 
io 



1 u; 

No. 16. — General Oglethorpe's Letter to Lieutenant Gov- 
ernor Bull : 

Ch.arlks Town, 26th March, 1740. 

Sir: I received the Pleasure of yours, with the General 
Assembly's # Plan, proposing the assistance of £120,000 
towards the Siege of St. Augustine, &c 

I desire that you would acquaint the Assembly that I am 
Come to Consult Measures with them for bringing that En- 
terprise to a happy Conclusion, with the smallest Expence 
of Men and Money, for which purpose it will be best imme- 
diately, with what Men can be had, to make a Sudden 
Attempt, which may be done with an Expence of only part 
of the Sum intended, and the greatest part reserved for the 
Supporting the same, and if success meets the first attempt, 
the reserved Sum might be entirely Saved. If this attempt 
cannot be immediately made, the only other measure will 
be, the giving me at present Such part of that assistance 
proposed, as may keep the War on the other Side of St. John's 
or St. Matthew's River until the fall, during which time 
Preparations may be made for the Siege, at an Expence 
within the Sum Voted by the Assembly. In case neither 
of these Assistances can be given, I shall be obliged to Draw 
in the Troops from the advanced Posts, and bring the Regi- 
ment together for making a Vigorous Defence in one Place. 
If I am put under this Necessity, I shall lose the advantage 
already gained by the taking of St. Francis, which hath 
cut off the Communication of Augustine with the Apa- 
lachee, and an Hundred Men of their Garrison now at St. 
Mark's, and the Spaniards will again be Masters of the 
River St. John's or St. Mathew's, the Path to the Creek 
Nation, and the French, and of Molesting us from all parts. 

My Speedy return is absolutely necessary, to meet the 
Indians, who I expect are upon the way, and some perhaps 
arrived on the Southern Frontiers, and to prevent any acci- 
dents happening By the Troops being dispersed, in occu- 
pying those Posts Necessary for the Siege, which I cannot 
justify leaving dispersed if the Design of the Siege is laid 
aside, I should therefore desire a Speedy answer. 



147 

I am obliged to Conclude, this Letter growing tedious, if 
therefore it is necessary farther to explain the Mel hods to be 
taken, I am ready to do it by a Conference with the Com- 
mittees of the General Assembly, if they desire it, and am, 
Sir, your very humble Servant, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

No. 17. — General Oglethorpe's Plan of assistance for a 
Sudden Attempt upon St. Augustine : 

The 29th March, 1740. 

General Oglethorpe's Estimate, of what Number of Men, 
Ammunition, Utensils, and Provisions, to be provided out 
of the Sum of £120,000 voted for the assisting in the Siege 
of St. Augustine, will be necessary for the immediate attack- 
ing of that Place (that is to say) : 

Four hundred men, being the Regiment of Foot men- 
tioned in the Calculation, to be engaged for three Months 
more, in the whole not Exceeding Six Months; out of which 
two hundred, if so many can be raised, to be embarked 
immediately at Charles Town, One hundred to be raised in 
Georgia; and hundred in the Southern Parts of Carolina. 

Provisions for the said number, for five hundred Indians 
for four months, Sixty-one Thousand Pounds weight of 
Beef at the pound per Diem each, Five hundred Bushels of 
Pease, Forty-Eight Thousand pounds weight of Rice, instead 
of Corn, the Indians having no women with them to Parch 
or pound their Corn. 

Five Hundred Guns, Five hundred Hatchets, Five hun- 
dred Blankets, Paint. 

Sloops or Deck'd Boats for Embarking the two hundred 
Men at Charles Town, Pettyauguas for Carrying down the 
two hundred Men raised at the Southward and at Port 
Royal, Pettyauguas for Carrying down Provisions, &c, for 
the Indians and fifty men of the Company at Port Royal. 

Fifty Barrels of. Powder, of an hundred weight each, Two 
Thousand pounds weight of Bullets, Twenty Thousand 
Flints. 



148 

Two hundred Spades, Axes, Hoes, or Bills, Surgeon's 
Chests and Medicines, Two hundred and fifty Pounds; Lin- 
nen for Bandages, &c, forty pounds; For Contingencies 
Three thousand Eight hundred and twenty-four pounds. 

Eight Six pounders and Carriages, Two small Brass Field 
Pieces from Port Royal, the Mortar Piece and Bombs, Co- 
horns, and shells as many as can be, Two hundred Rounds 
for the Cannon, Mortar piece and Cohorns, Twenty pair of 
light Cart wheels, Six Reams of Cartridge Paper for the 
Cannon, a Troop of Rangers or Cattle Hunters, if they can 
be got time enough. If these Preparations cannot be had 
within fourteen days, so as to Set out from Charles Town 
within that time, the Enterprize will hardly succeed, and 
the Provisions of the Indians Should be immediately sent 
down, Since the disappointing of them will be Exceeding 
Dangerous. If we immediately take the Town, and the 
Castle Capitulates, no farther Expense will be necessary, 
and there will be a saving of near half the Expence first 
proposed by the Calculation. But if the Castle should 
make a Resistance beyond Expectation, then the Battering 
Cannon, Pioneers, Provisions for them, Presents and Pro- 
visions for five hundred more Indians, Powder and Bullets, 
Utensils for the Pioneers, in the whole not exceeding the 
one hundred and Twenty thousand pounds, Should be 
ordered so as the Preparations may be at Augustine, in the 
beginning of October, to open Trenches and force the Place 
by a Siege. 

No. 18. — General Oglethorpe's Letter to Lieutenant Gov- 
ernor Bull : 



Charles Town, 29th of March, 1740. 

Sir: You having desired an Estimate for the Assembly 
of what number of Men, &c, will be necessary for making 
the Sudden attempt on Augustine, mentioned as the first 
method in my Letter, I have sent you the Estimate Inclosed; 
which though it is not as large as I think would be proper, 



149 

yet as it is all that can be done, I will undertake the attempt 
with it. 

I am, Sir, j'our very humble Servant, 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

P. S. — Having Consulted with Capt. Pierce, he assures 
me, that if we are ready to move in fourteen days, he will 
assist the Undertaking with his Majesty's ships to the 
utmost; he desired an immediate answer, that he might send 
to Lieut. Yelverton Peyton to joyn him, with his forty Gun- 
ship now in Virginia. 

No. 19. — Report of the Committee appointed to Confer 
with General Oglethorpe : 

The 29th op March, 1740. 

The Committee of Conference appointed to Consult with 
General Oglethorpe, Report and Agree : 

1st. That four hundred men with officers, to be Commis- 
sioned by this Government, be raised, the Men to have £12 
per month, and the Officers at the same pay as formerly 
agreed, to be Continued for four Months, with Provisions. 

2dly. That Provisions for Indians, not exceeding five 
hundred in Number, be provided for four Months, in case 
so many Indians shall be employed in this Service. 

3dly. That there be provided sixty one thousand Pounds 
weight of Beef and Pork, five hundred Bushels of Corn, Five 
hundred Hatchets, Five hundred Blankets, and a Quantity 
of paint for the Indians, in case so many shall be employed, 
Sloops or Deck'd Boats for Transporting the men raised in 
South Carolina and Georgia, and for Transporting the Pro- 
visions, five thousand pounds weight of Powder, Ten thou- 
sand pounds weight of Bullets, Twenty Thousand Flints, 
Two hundred Spades, Axes, Hoes or Bills, Surgeon's Chests 
and Medicines, Linnen for Bandages Forty pounds, Con- 
tingencies Three thousand Eight hundred' and twenty-four 
pounds, Eight Six pound Cannons with Carriages, two 



150 

Small Brass Cannon from Port Royal, the Mortar Piece, 
Bombs, Cohorns and shells as many as can be, two hundred 
Rounds for the Cannon, Mortar Piece and Cohorns, Twenty 
pair of light Cart Wheels, Six Reams of Cartridge Paper, a 
Troop of forty Rangers. 

•Ithlv. That at the end of four Months, or at the end of 
the Service, if Sooner, the men raised in this Province be 
brought back at the Expense of this Province. 

5thly. That the money for defraying this Expense be 
borrowed at Eight per Cent., to be repaid by a Tax of Five 
Shillings per head on all negros, and five Shillings per 
hundred Acres on Land for four Years. 

(ithlv. That a Bill be brought in for this purpose. 

No. 20. — Voucher for Captain Tyrrel's being put under 
the Command of the Commodore. 

The Lieutenant Governor gave his word to the Commit- 
tee for this, the Original Orders being mislaid. 

No 21. — Lieutenant Governor Bull's Sixth Instruction to 
Colonel Vanderdussen : 

When you shall arrive with the Forces of this Govern- 
ment under your Command at the place of general Ren- 
dezvous, where General Oglethorpe will be present, and who 
will Undertake the Conduct of this Expedition, you are 
then to proceed according to his directions during the time 
of action. WILLIAM BULL. 

No. 22. — General Oglethorpe's Journal of his first Pro- 
ceedings from the ninth to the 22d of May in Florida, sent 
to Lieutenant Governor Bull the 24th of May, 1710 : 

Fort St. George, at the Mouth of 
St. John's oil St. Mathews, 14th of May, 1740. 

On the ninth General Oglethope passed into Florida, 
Campt upon the Spanish side of the River St. John's, and 
then sent the Indians to reconnoitre the Country. They 



151 

brought in a Negro Prisoner, which they had taken near 
Fort St. Diego, as also letters from St. Augustine. Two 
Sloops arrived with his stores and some of his Regiment 
from Frederica. and four Schooners with stores from Charles 
Town, and Captain Lieutenant Maxwell, and Ensign Bla- 
myer, with a Detachment of the Carolina Regiment. On 
the Tenth, in the Morning, he marched for Fort St. Diego, 
and encamped that night at Lacanela, half way to Augus- 
tine, where he was obliged to leave his cannon, the Sands 
being deep, and having no horses to draw them, the men 
could not carry them further; he then sent Captain Lieu- 
tenant Maxwell, with a party of the regular Troops, and of 
the Carolina Regiment, and Captain Brown, with a Party 
of Cherokee Indians, to Invest the Fort; and they arrived 
before it about the middle of the night. They approached 
as near as they could, and on the Eleventh burnt the House 
nearest to it. . About Day break they attacked it with great 
Bravery, but the Ground being all clear for five hundred 
yards round, the Spaniards fired very strongly upon them, 
so that they were obliged to retire. The General came up 
with the whole Body about ten in the morning, and sent 
out the Indians to hunt up the Spanish Horses and Cattle. 
He rode round with a very few in Company to view the 
works, and on the farther side of the Place Discovered four 
Spanish Horsemen ; he ordered two men to charge them, 
who wounded one and took his Horse, and the rest ran 
away. The Spaniards continued firing, and the General 
surrounded the Place with guards and Sentries. On the 
Twelfth, in the morning, he sent one of the Spanish Pris- 
oners with a Drum to Summons the Garrison, who ac- 
quainted them with the Kind Treatment he had received, 
upon which they offered to treat. Then the General spoke 
to the Troops of both Regiments, who were drawn up in 
Line of Battle, and the Indians, and asked them, if they 
were willing to give up their claim of Plunder, and to ad- 
mit the Spaniards to Capitulation: they with one voice 
agreed to a Capitulation, the articles of which were as 
follows : 



152 

1st. That the Garrison should Surrender Prisoners of war 
and deliver up the Fort with the Cannon and stores to the 
King of Great Britain. 

2dly. That they should have liberty to keep their Bag-, 
gage and not to be plundered. 

3dly. That Seignior Diego Spinosa, to whom this Fort 
belongs, being built at his Charge and on his Lands, should 
hold Ills Slaves, Lands and such other Effects as were not 
already plundered in the Field. 

4thly. That all Deserters and Negro Runaways from Car- 
olina, Should not have the Benefit of this Capitulation, but 
be Surrendered to Discretion. 

The Garrison marched out, and Lieutenant Dunbar, En- 
signs Sutherland and Hogan, of the General's Regiment, 
and Lieutenant *Saussure, of the Carolina Regiment, with a 
Party from both, took possession of the Fort and the nine 
Swivel Guns, two large Carriage Guns, Some Powder, Bullet 
and Seventy Small arms, the latter of which were given to 
the Indians. The Capitulation was Strictly kept. As soon 
as the Gate was taken possession of, an alarm came, that 
Succours were come by water, and the Horse by Land, to 
relieve the Garrison, on which the General marched imme- 
diately to meet them. The Indians discovered some Horse- 
men, who immediately ran away, and the General march- 
ing to the Landing Place, which was three miles from the 
Fort, found two large Launches that rowed with twenty 
Oars each, but the men had forsook them, and the Guns 
were Gone. The Indians followed them upon their track, 
but they got into such thickety Ground that they could not 
overtake them. The Indians took the three Horses, and 
one of the men that escaped from the General, and between 
forty and fifty Horses and Mares in the Country ; and they 
and all the troops live plentifully upon fat Beef. The Land 
is mostly fine Savannas, with fresh water Ponds. There 
was very fine wheat growing in Diego Spinosa's farm, and 
some vines, and a Plantation and a good House, belonging 
to Don Pedro, about a mile from it, and several other 
Houses and Stocks of Cattle about the Country. 

*This name should no doubt be DeSaussure. 



153 

This Fort is within four hours' march of Augustine. After 
the taking of Fort St. Diego, General Oglethorpe marked 
out an additional Intrenchment to be made there, left Lieu- 
tenant Dunbar with a Garrison of Fifty men, and returned 
to the River St. Mathews with a few Horse, leaving the rest 
of the Detachment to march at Leasure, who guarded down 
fifty Prisoners. He went over to St. George's the thirteenth 
at night, where Major Cook, Captain Heron, Captain McKay, 
and Captain Desbrisay were arrived with part of the Regi- 
ment, and also some of the Carolina Regiment. On the 
fifteenth he passed the River with the whole corps, baggage 
and artillery, and ordered the Camp to be marked out at 
the mouth of the River St. Mathews, in Florida. In the Eve- 
ning he marched with the Highland Company of Foot and 
a Party of the Regiment under the Command of Captain 
McKay, Lieutenant Deligal and Ensign McKay, as a Con- 
voy, with Provisions, to Fort Diego. The enemy Indians 
from a wood, near the Fort, fired upon and killed a servant 
who was leading the General's Horse, and cut off his head. 
The General with the Highlanders and Troops entered the 
woods on Foot and pursued the Indians so hard, that they 
forced them to drop the head ; and followed them to the 
Fort of Moosa, within six miles of Augustine and Eighteen 
miles -from St. Diego. There appeared two Spanish 
Launches on the River, and a body of Horse and Foot, but 
they retired as soon as the English came within two miles 
of them. The Rangers pursued and took thirty Horses, 
and took possession of several Spanish Houses, which the 
General preserved from Burning, some of them being very 
spacious and good Buildings, fit for Quarters for the sick, 
&c. One of the General's Horses was Killed and his Cloak 
shot through in Several places. They all returned to Fort 
St. Diego the same night, having marched Thirty-Six Miles 
that Day. On the Eighteenth the General returned to the 
Camp at the River St, Mathews. The same day Commodore 
Pearce, in His Majesty's Ship, the Flamborough, and Cap- 
tain Fanshaw, in his Majesty's Ship, the Phoenix, came to 
an anchor near the Bar to confer with the General. 



154 

The Commodore had left Sir Zelverton Peyton in his 
Majesty's Ship, the Hector, and Captain Warren, in his 
Majesty's Ship, the Squirrel, to block up the Bar of Augus- 
tine. Oil the nineteenth, in the morning, the General went 
on Board the Commodore, and they returned together on 
Shore. About midnight three Indians came to him with 
advices, " That they saw tiring from the woods near Fort 
Diego, and tiring from the Fort, that the Flaee being 
attacked by the Spaniards they would not venture near, but 
came to give Notice." The General immediately ordered a 
Detachment to march under Captain Heron, and the Troops 
to get ready for marching the next Morning, each Man to 
carry six days' Provisions. On the twentieth he followed 
with Colonel Cook, Captains Norburyand Desbrisay, Lieut- 
tenant Demare, Ensigns McKay, Tolson, Mace, Sutherland 
and Stewart, Sergeants, Corporals, Drums, and One hundred 
and Eighty private Men of the regular Troops, the whole 
Company of Highland Foot, under the Command of Captain 
Mcintosh, and Ensign Charles Mackay, Colonel Vander- 
dussen, Lieutenant-Colonel Lejeau, Major Colleton, Captain 
Laffitte, Captain Mikell, Captain Lieutenant Maxwell, Lieu- 
tenants Izard, Cadogan, Jennelack and Parmenton, and 
Ensigns Gough, Blamyer, Dansey and Ladson, with a de- 
tachment of Two hundred and fifty private Men of the 
Carolina Regiment. They did not get out 'till Ten in the 
Morning, when it was already grown hot, by reason of the 
delay in getting out the Provisions. They marched to 
Lacanela, where the regular Troops and the Carolina Regi- 
ment halted, 'till Sunset, being excessively fatigued with 
the heat of the day; but the General with the Highland 
Company marched on, and overtook Captain Heron, and 
before Sunset arrived within Sight of Fort Diego, and sent 
a Detachment to see how all things stood. They returned, 
All well, and that it was a false alarm occasioned by the 
Garrison and the Indians who were in the woods firing 
their arms to Clean them after the Pain, which the Hunters 
returning mistook. The General marked out a Camp, and 



155 

on the twenty-second, at Night, returned hither to carry up 
the rest of the Troops to Fort Diego. 

No. 23. — The Deposition of Thomas Wright, Esq., Com- 
missary to the Carolina Forces. 

South Carolina Com. Berks, ss. 

Thomas Wright, Esq., employed as Commissary to the 
Carolina Forces in the late Expedition against St. Augus- 
tine, being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty 
God, declared : 

That when General Oglethorpe lauded in Florida, on the 
9th of May, 1740, he, this Deponent, was present, and that 
the number of his men, including the Independent Com- 
pany of Highlanders, was about two hundred and twenty; 
the Number of the Carolina men about one hundred and 
twenty-five; and the Number of Indians about one hundred 
and three, of which nine only were Creeks, the rest Chero- 
kees ; and that there was then no other Field Officer of 
either Regiment on the Spot. 

That the negro Prisoner which the Indians brought in 
to the General that day, gave an account that four Galleys 
were fitted and Manned at Augustine, for St. John's River. 

That on the Tenth day of May, when the General marched 
from the Camp at St. John's for Fort Diego, he left only 
about twenty Invalids of his own Men, and twenty-five sick 
and ailing men of the Carolinas, to guard the Craft, which 
Consisted of two Sloops in his service and four Schooners 
in that of Carolina, on Board of which was all the Ammu- 
nition, Provisions, &c., and that the Orders were to March 
with Six days' Provisions. 

That the day after the Genneral left St. John's, the Craft 
not thinking themselves safe where they lay, chiefly on ac- 
count of the Spanish Galleys, run into the River, under 
Cover of St. George's Fort, and that there was only two four 
Pounders there, one of which had a nail or bit broke in the 
Touch-hole. 



156 

That about the Nineteenth day of May he was present in 
the General's Tent, where he heard the General tell Don 
Diego, " That he would do him as little Prejudice as pos- 
sible, and agreed to pay him for all the Beefs that should 
be killed of his the same price as the King of Spain paid 
him, and that if he wou.d go out with his People to hunt 
for Cattle, and Should drive up an.y belonging to him, in 
such ease he Should have a certain Price for them also per 
head. 

That there was a General Discontent in both Camps at 
St. John's, on account of a ( leneral Order which the General 
bad given out, That no person, not even an Officer, should 
buy any Horses of the Indians, insomuch that they had not 
proper means of carrying their baggage. 

That one day being with the General in his tent at St. 
John's, the General told him, " That he proposed to Send 
into St. Augustine two of the Spanish Prisoners taken at 
Port Diego, with Letters to Encourage the Men of that Gar- 
rison to Desert, promising good usage, &c., and asked him, 
this Deponent, what he thought of it." That thereupon he 
told the General That be apprehended it would be of very 
ill Consequence, for that those Prisoners might let the 
Spaniards at Augustine into the knowledge of our real 
Strength and Numbers, and also our Situation, and the 
Posture and Condition every thing was in, which was such, 
that it was not proper for them to know it, or to that pur- 
pose, whereupon the General replied, That he was resolved 
to send the said Prisoners in, that if they did not return, 
there would be only Two men added to the Number of the 
( rarrison : And that accordingly those Men were sent under 
a Guard for Fear of the Indians, to the best of his belief and 
knowledge, for he did not actually see them Set Off with 
these Letters, bul that they never returned, so far as he 
could learn. 

That of the Spanish Prisoners brought down from Fort 
Diego to St. John's, a part only were put aboard the Men- 
of-War, and several on Board the Carolina Craft, no way 



157 

secured, nor any Guard Placed over them ; so that some of 
them made their Escape from on board the said Craft. 

That about the twenty-third day of May he was present 
in the General's Tent, when a Soldier came and told the 
General that there were three Men of Captain Mikell's Com- 
pany who were willing to enter in his Regiment ; upon 
which the General Commended the Soldier, and ordered 
some Beer to be given him : That thereupon he, this Depo- 
nent, told the General, That if he encouraged such a Prac- 
tice it would be a disadvantage to Carolina, from whence 
our men had come with a design to return home again ; 
that the said Company was not Compleat, and that the 
drawing men out of one Regiment into the other, was no 
Augmentation of the Forces, upon which the General Ex- 
pressed some Resentment. 

That when the General moved his Camp from St. John's, 
about the 2dth of May, he left only about forty or fifty men 
with Lieutenant Colonel Cook. 

THOMAS WRIGHT. 

Sworn before me this 25th of May, 174]. 

HENRY GIBBES, J. P. 

No. 24. — Extract of Mr. Gordon, Secretary, his Journal 
of the twentieth of May, 1740 : 

This morning at Two o'clock the General ordered to beat 
to arms; Cob Yanderdussen went to know the reason of it. 
The Genera] told him he had received an account by which 
he was Informed that the Spaniards had Sallied out of Au- 
gustine, in order to attack Fort Diego, and that they had 
actually Invested the Place. The men were got under 
arms. At Ten o'clock A. M. marched out of the < lamp two 
hundred and fifty men of our Regiment, two hundred and 
fifty of the General's Regiment, and one hundred Indians, 
to relieve Fort Diego. 

Remains in our Camp Men, under the Command of 

Captain Stobo ; and fifty in the General's, under the Com- 
mand of Captain McKay. 



15S 
No. 25. — Deposition of Col. Alexander Vanderdussen : 

South Carolina, Com. Berks, ss. 

Alexander Vanderdussen, Esq., (Colonel of the Forces in 
the Pay of this Province, which assisted General Oglethorpe 
in the late Expedition against St. Augustine), being duly 
sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, declareth, 
in answer to the Respective Questions demanded of him by 
a Committee of both Houses of Assembly : 

That every thing contained in the Extracts, taken by the 
said Committee out of a Journal of the said Expedition, kept 
by his Secretary, Mr. James Gordon, deceased, is true, with 
this Exception only, that he doth not know of his own 
knowledge, what is related to have been said by Lieutenant 
Barradel, in a Council of War, held on Board the Commo- 
dore, But he Remembers that Mr. Gordon told him upon 
Anastatia, that he heard that Related by one of the Cap- 
tains of the men-of-war, present in the Council. 

That the Copies of Letters and orders, annexed to the 
said Journal, are to the best of his knowledge and belief, 
Just and true Copies of the Originals, from and to whom 
they are said to be sent. 

That it was agreed upon in Charles Town, between the 
General, the Commodore and himself, to Concert the Meas- 
ures for carrying on the Enterprize, at St. George's; the 
Place fixed on for the General Rendezvous of the Forces. 
That on his arrival there he found the General Encamped 
on the Florida Side of St. John's River. But that he did 
not then call a Council of War, nor at any time after during 
the Expedition. 

That the General told him the reason of his Landing at 
that Place was, in order to keep up a Communication with 
the Sea Forces. 

That the march to relieve Fort Diego on an alarm that it 
was attacked, was so hard; that it being a very hot Day, the 
men fainted for want of water, and dropped by the way ; 
and that upon Enquiry, the next day, in particular, after 
two of the General's Men, he was told they died. 



159 

That Diego Spinosa, who was at Liberty, and taken by 
the General for a Guide to the army in that march, misled 
them by night Considerably out of their way. 

That when the General went, with some Officers and 
Guards from Fort Diego, to reconnoitre the point of Augus- 
tine, One of the Highlanders on Foot, who dropped on the 
way by the Severity of the March, died, and that Lieutenant 
Colonel Cook and Captain Norbury, being both in years, 
were so faint with Excessive heat and want of water; that 
the General directed them to return back. 

That when the General marched with the army from 
Fort Diego to Augustine, he told him, this Deponent, that 
it was in order to reeonnoiter it; all the accounts yet given 
not being to be relied on ; and ordered him to March with 
five Days' Provisions. That the General marched about 
three hundred men of his own, including the Highland 
Company and Rangers: And that a Spanish Negro Deserter, 
who was at Liberty, and Commonly called, by the General, 
Captain Jack, was Guide for the army. 

That the Gun which was drawn on the March, was on 
account of the Badness of the Way, at last left behind in 
that Path. 

That he believes the Town of Augustine might have been 
taken on the first appearance of the army, because Deserters 
from thence afterwards said, That the Governor had ordered 
the Inhabitants, in Case of an attack, to go into the Castle. 

That before the General marched back to Fort Diego, he 
made two Breaches in Fort Moosa, took away the Gate, and 
burnt the house within. 

That when he communicated to the General the opinion 
of his officers, upon the orders which he had received from 
him, to carry part of his Regiment over from Point Quar- 
tell to Anastatia, the General having Said, Then they refuse 
to obey Orders ; he answered, No, Sir; That is only their 
Opinion ; But if your Excellency Still orders me to do it, I 
will bring them over: upon which it was dropped. 

That by Information of Deserters afterwards, when the 
General had demanded the Castle of St. Augustine from the 



100 

Governor, above two-thirds of the People were for Surren- 
dering, upon Condition that they should be permitted to go 
to Havana, But that the Governor and Bishop, who had 
come at the knowledge of the time that the Men-of-War 
designed to Stay, would not come into it. 

That the Governor of Augustine's answer, with respect to 
the Prisoners was, that he treated all with humanity, as he 
desired his People might be treated. 

That the men-of-war having been obliged, by a Strong 
Easterly wind, to Slip their Cables and stand out to Sea, Sir 
Yelverton Peyton, in the Hector, did not return again as 
the rest did, but returned, as he, this Deponent, Supposes, 
Secretly to his Station at Virginia, tho' he left a Boat and 
Crew of hands on shore. 

That when the General went over from Anastatia to the 
Main Land, he left with Lieutenant Colonel Cook, who had 
the Charge of the Artillery, only three or four Servants. 

That the Seamen who worked on Shore were paid by the 
General twelve pence Sterling per Diem, each, for their 
Assistance in Landing and mounting the Artillery, on 
Anastatia. 

That the weather was very fair, when the men-of-war Set 
Sail, and left the Land Forces. 

That he, this Deponent, saw the Letter which Captain 
Warren found on Board a Spanish Sloop, which he took 
before the said Expedition was undertaken, wherein the 
Governor of Augustine advised the Governor at Havannah, 
" That General Oglethorpe had taken Fort Pupa, and Fort 
Picolata, on St. John's River ; that he therefore expected a 
Siege, and pressed for an immediate Supply of Provisions, 
Ammunition, &c., to enable him to maintain the Place. 

That the distance of the nearest Battery upon Anastatia 
to St. Augustine Castle, was computed to be about a mile, 
and the distance of the farthest Battery, above a mile and a 
half; That upon the first* Shell being thrown from Point 
Quartell (which fell, by Information of Deserters, near the 
Gate), the people retired without the Town, there being- 
nothing on that side to keep them in : and that whenever a 



161 

Shell was thrown after, either from Point Quartell, or from 
Anastatia, a Bell was rung in Augustine, to give notice to 
the People to retire. 

ALEXANDER VANDERDUSSEN. 

Sworn before me this 25th of June, 1741. 
Alexander Cramahe, /. P. 

No. 23. — Extract of Lieutenant Colonel Lejeau's Journal 
of the 20th of May, 1740: 

The Sun being about half an hour high, orders were 
given for marching again, as we did along the Sea Shore 
for about a mile; then struck up from the Sea, directly 
mounting over a high Ridge of Land, as there is all along 
the Coast; had some difficulty to get a four Pounder on 
Carriage Wheels, which was drawn by Twenty of the Gen- 
eral's Soldiers. At this place our Regiment helped them 
over. It being but nine miles from hence to Fort Diego, by 
losing our way in the night, arrived there about one o'clock 
in the morning, and heartily tired ; It being dark, and no 
Place appointed us, lay Down in the Place we halted, with- 
out any fire, on the Ground, and great dew. 

No. 27. — Extract of Colonel Vanderduss'en's Letter to 
Lieutenant Governor Bull : 

Camp at St. John's, 
The twenty-seventh day of May, 1740. 

The General-, I, and Major Heron, went the next day (the 
twenty-first day of May) to reconnoitre the Point of the 
Bar. We went within a League of St. Augustine, and all 
our Guard were left upon the Road, which consisted of In- 
dians and Scotts Highlanders. The Indians left us before 
we got half way ; so that there were only we three that went 
on, and if the Spaniards had not behaved like what they 
arc, they might have surprised us, we being within Sight, 
of the Island of Anastatia. We returned after viewing the 
1 1 



162 

Ground, very much fatigued, our Horses not being able to 
walk, and arrived at Fort Diego at two o'clock next morning. 
ALEXANDEK YAXDERDUSSEN. 

No. 28. — The Deposition of Lieutenant Bryan, of the Vol- 
unteers : 

South Carolina, Com. Berks, ss. 

Jonathan Bryan, late Lieutenant of the Company of Vol- 
unteers, which assisted General Oglethorpe in his Expedi- 
tion against St, Augustine, being duly Sworn on the Holy 
Evangelists of Almighty God, Saith : 

That he landed on the Spanish Side of St, Juan's, about 
the twenty-second of May past, with about twelve of the 
Company of Volunteers, and from thence marched to Fort 
Diego, where the Chief part of the Forces then were, and 
Continued to give their assistance in any thing required or 
Commanded by the General, as long as he stayed upon the 
Spanish Main. 

That the General going out from Fort Diego to recon- 
noiter with a large Detachment of his own Men, Seven of 
the Volunteers (of which this Deponent was one), and a 
party of Indians, having marched all Night, and just about 
Break of Day coming in Sight of five Houses scattered, in 
some of which smoke appeared within, about five or six 
miles of Augustine; he caused the whole Party to halt, at 
about a Quarter of a Mile's distance. Then ordered the 
Seven Volunteers to go up and attack those Houses, which 
they did, and having entered them, and brought out Pris- 
oners two Negroes only (some others escaping for want of 
more assistance), the General then marching up with the 
whole Party, said to them, well, I see the Carolina men 
have Courage, but no Conduct, to which this Deponent 
replied, Sir, the Conduct is Yours! or to that Purpose. 
That those Negroes, by their own Confession, were both 
Carolina Negroes; the one having run away from Mrs. 
Parker, and the other being carried away by the Indians 
from Colonel Gibbes: And that the General claiming a 



163 

Property in them, the Volunteers offered either to pay him 
one-half of the Salvage, or to receive the same from him ; 
but that he ordered them to take Charge of those Negroes, 
then inarched back to Diego, having been about three days 
out upon this March, and the next day took them away, 
and never allowed anything for them. And that the Gen- 
eral also took away Several Horses from the Volunteers, 
which they had taken to carry their Baggage ; and that the 
General refused to Permit them to burn the Houses, afore- 
said, saying they would Serve for the Inhabitants that he 
should bring there. 

That whilst at Fort Diego, altho' Beefs were very plenty, 
it was with great difficulty the Volunteers could obtain any 
fresh Provisions, being generally left to Shift for them- 
selves ; tho' the General was frequently acquainted with it ; 
and that he heard the General Say, Don Diego should be 
paid for all that was killed ; and that the Said Diego was at 
Libert}', as much as any one in the Camp. 

That w r hen the army was marching to Augu tine, he 
heard Colonel Palmer several times offer the General if he 
would let him have a Party of Carolina Men and Indians, 
he would go in and burn the Town ; which the General 
refused, and often said, in this Deponent's hearing, that he 
would not by any means have the Town Burnt. 

That just before day the Army halted at a dividing Path 
within two Miles of St. Augustine, after which they marched 
and took Possession of Fort Moosa, in Sight of St. Augus- 
tine, and which had been deserted. 

That the Men in general discovered a desire to attack the 
Town. That about Eight o'clock that morning this Depo- 
nent, with three or four of the Rangers, went up near to the 
Town, and brought away three Horses, and that having 
perceived the Town was in a great tumult and Confusion, 
the Inhabitants Screeching and Crying; he, this Deponent, 
told the General thereof; and hearing him talk of with- 
drawing the Forces, he asked him if it would not be best 
to attack the Place then ? That that was the time of doing, 
for that if he retreated, they would make preparations 



164 

against his return, to which the General replied, that if he 
attempted to Storm the Town, he should lose three hundred 
men. 

That a great Rain" falling that Day, some of the Volun- 
teers (of which the Deponent was one) and officers of the 
Carolina Regiment betook themselves for shelter into a House 
in Fort Moosa, where were some of the General's officers 
and private men. That soon after he saw several of those 
Volunteers and Carolina officers go out again into the 
weather, and was told by Colonel Palmer, who was one of 
them, that the reason was because the General had severely 
reprimanded the Sentinel for letting them go in, Saying, 
that he Could not be guilty of a greater Crime. That the 
said House was big enough to have contained all the arms 
of the Forces, as well as a great Part of the People, notwith- 
standing which, all the Carolina Arms particularly were 
rendered unfit for action, had the Spaniards at that Junc- 
ture made any attack. 

That the next day, the Forces marching back to Diego, 
after having made several Breaches in the Fort, took away 
the Gate and burnt the House (altho' this Deponent told the 
General it might Serve for a Hospital). He saw several of 
the General's men give out and drop upon the March, and 
that he heard the General give out a general Order to Shoot 
any Man that should lag behind. But that this Order was 
not put in Execution by the officers, as he Supposes, out of 
Compassion ; for that they had come from Diego with only 
three days' Provisions, and were both very hungry and 
greatly fatigued with marching. 

That a day or two after, all the Volunteers Except 
Colonel Barnwell, who acted as the General's Aid de Camp, 
and one William Steads, left Diego, and went to St. Juan's 
with a Resolution to Return home, being disgusted at the 
Treatment they had met with, and disappointed in their 
Expectations of Attacking the Town of St. Augustine; hav- 
ing met with nothing but perpetual Marches, and Scant 
allowance of Provisions, and that fetched Twenty-five Miles 
upon Men's Backs: But that he himself meeting with the 



165 

rest of the Company of Volunteers, just arrived at St. Juan's, 
Stayed with them. 

That he was afterwards at Point Quartell, when those that 
escaped from the defeat of Moosa Came over there, and 
particularly remembers that Adjutant McKay had Scarce 
any Clothes on, and told him that he had lost his Commis- 
sion, &c. 

That afterwards he went over to Captain Wright, at 
Anastatia, with the rest of the Company of Volunteers, and 
joyneol the Forces there. That the. Volunteers, in General, 
discovered a great desire of having an Opportunity to come 
to Action. That they, with their Negroes, threw up one of 
the two Batteries on that Island : But that they were both 
thought of no Service against the Castle : The Inhabitants 
being seen going in and out of Town, driving their Cattle 
to and from feeding. That all things were carried on in a 
most dilatory Manner, to general dissatisfaction. Yet that 
they Stayed till the Men-of- War had determined to go away, 
and no prospect remained of attempting any thing further. 

And this Deponent further Saith, that William Gray, who 
headed the Chickasaw Indians, told him they had offered 
to go over from Anastatia, and burn the Town, if the Gen- 
eral would permit them to do it. That those Indians were 
disgusted, because the General refused to accept the head of 
a Spanish Indian, which they had gone over and killed, 
and that the Cherokees also were disgusted at Diego, as 
Caser, one of their head Men, told him, because the General 
was angry with them for killing Cattle there to eat, and 
would not permit them to do it ; And that the said Caser 
said it was a strange thing that they were permitted to kill 
the Spaniards, but not their Beef; and threatened to carry 
all his men home. 

JONATHAN BRYAN. 

Sworn to before me this 25th of March, 1741. 
Alex. Cramahe, ./. P. 



1GG 

No. 20. — One of General Oglethorpe's Stipulations: 

And T do further declare, that all Negroes which have 
Deserted from Smith Carolina, and which shall be taken in 
Florida during the said Expedition, shall be delivered up 
to (heir respective owners, on paving the Sum of five pounds 
Sterling per head to the Captors. 

JAMES OGLETHORPE. 

No. 30. — Extract from Lieutenant Colonel Lejeau's Jour- 
nal : 

The 30th of May, 1740. 

In the night late, the. General was returned much out of 
Order, he had been towards Augustine, to some out place, 
where he took two Negroes, who say they are in a Starving' 
Condition at the Castle. 

No. 31. — Extract of Mr. Gordon's Journal : 

The 30th of May, 1 740. 

At Eleven o'clock A. M., Colonel Vanderdussen gave 
orders that the Regiment should be under Arms at four, 
which they were accordingly, and reviewed by the General 
and Colonel Vanderdussen, and the field Return was three 
hundred and Seventy-Eight, besides Field officers, Volun- 
teers, and Cadets. 

No. 32. — Deposition of Thomas Jones : 

South Carolina, Com. Berks, ss. 

Thomas Jones, being duly Sworn on the Holy Evangel- 
ists of Almighty God, deposeth and Saith : That he was 
hired by General Oglethorpe, to Serve in the late Expedi- 
tion against St. Augustine, as Linguist to the Creeks and 
Euchee Indians, who joined the Forces on that occasion, 
and also to head them in all actions they should be Em- 
ployed in. lie being himself of Indian Extract. 

That he, with a Party of Creek Indians, joyned the Gen- 
eral at St. Juan's, who ordered him Constantly to keep 



167 

Scouting round the Country, to watch the Enemy's Motions, 
and to Endeavour to take some Prisoners; but positively 
enjoyned him not to permit the Indians to burn or destroy 
any Houses. 

That he often told the General they would soon be tired 
with that way of Proceeding, for that they loved to go and 
do their Business at once, and return home again. To 
which the General replied, If they have a mind to go home, 
don't disturb them, let them go. That after about three 
weeks had been spent in ranging only forward and back- 
ward, many of the Creeks, being quite tired with constant 
fatigue day and night, and disheartened that there was not 
prospect of attacking Augustine, returned home. 

That before and after the Army had marched within two 
miles of Augustine, Colonel Palmer said, he knew how to 
do it, and offered to go in with a Party of Men and burn 
the Town; but that he heard the General say it was too hot- 
headed a thing; and this Deponent Saith, that he knows 
himself that it was very easy to have been done, for that 
afterwards ranging by night, he took particular Notice of 
that Part of the Town where the Colonel proposed to enter. 

That he was present often when the General talked with 
the Spanish Prisoners and Deserters ; and observed that he 
pursued wholly their opinion and advice, more particularly 
Don Diego's ; and that he heard the General's Secretary say 
Several times, after the Army marched back to Fort Diego, 
that Don Diego persuaded the General, if he took possession 
of Anastatia with his Forces, the Castle would Surrender. 

That after the Carolina Regiment had marched from Fort 
Diego, to take possession of Point Quartell, the General, 
about the Eighth of June past, ordered him, this Deponent, 
with about thirty-five Indians, to Joyn the Highland Com- 
pany, the Rangers, and a Sergeant, and twelve Soldiers, 
making all together about one hundred and thirty men . 
and to go with Colonel Palmer, to whom he said he had 
given the direction of the whole, to follow his Directions; 
and to be sure to keep the Indians always out Scouting. 
That the General added, he was going over with his men 



1G8 

to Anastatia : That when he made a signal from thence, this 
party Mas to Fire upon the Town by Night, That he heard 
Colonel Palmer tell the General, the Party was not enough ; 
that he had too few men, upon which the General assured 
him, That he would send him more. And the next morn- 
ing, just before the said Party Set off, he, this Deponent, 
heard Colonel Palmer again repeat the like to the General, 
adding these words: Sir, you are going to sacrifice those 
men ! To which the General answered, That as soon as 
ever he had taken possession of the Island, he would send 
him more assistance. That on the tenth day of June, the 
Party arrived at Fort Moosa, in Sight of Augustine Castle. 
That all except the Rangers went inside that Fort, which 
had been dismantled, and encamped there That Colonel 
Palmer disapproved of it, but that notwithstanding they 
all went to makin?; Palmetto Huts. That many words on 
this account passed between Colonel Palmer, Capt. Mcintosh 
and Capt. McKay, day after day afterwards; the Colonel on 
one side telling them that the Enemy, from the Castle, 
Could count their number almost to a man, and that they 
would have their Throats Cut, and they on the other side 
Declaring, That as they had encamped there, they would 
not move; if the Enemy came they must Fight. And this 
Deponent Saith, that he never could perceive that Colonel 
Palmer had any Commission, or that he was obeyed as hav- 
ing the Chief Command. On the Contrary, that those Cap- 
tains, Mcintosh and Capt. McKay, seemed to carry equal 
Command, did not observe his directions ; and that he, this 
Deponent, often heard them all three differ and dispute 
about it. That Colonel Palmer, every morning before break 
of Day, used to go into the Fort, and endeavour to rouse 
the men up to stand to their Arms, but that they would still 
lie Sleeping, < )flicers and all ; which occasioned a great deal 
of Difference between Colonel Palmer and them. That in 
the mean time the Rangers and Indians every day Scouted 
round about and drove up a great many Horses. That 
after the General's Colours were Seen upon Anastatia, the 
twelfth, as this Deponent remembers, that Night, according 



169 

to the General's Directions, the Rangers, Indians, and a few 
of the Highlanders, with Capt. McKay, went out and fired 
into the Town. Bat that no men being sent over from 
Anastatia, Col. Palmer frequently complained, in this De- 
ponent's hearing, That the General had left them for a 
Sacrifice. 

That on the fifteenth, two hours before Day, Col. Palmer 
and almost all the Rangers got up as usual, and stood to 
their Arms. That the Colonel went into the Fort and 
roused the men there ; but that most of them lied down 
again. That he, this Deponent, about an hour after, was 
talking with the Colonel in the Gateway, and hearing a Gun 
fired very near, betook themselves into the Fort, lest the 
Indians might leave the white men, and that Colonel Palmer 
betook himself to the Trenches, whom he never saw after. 
That he found the men in great hurry and Confusion, some 
dressed and some undressed. That he got all the Indians 
together in one Flanker, who fought till most of them were 
killed or taken. That he could not see one of the Soldiers. 
That he could not find Captain Mcintosh, although he went 
into every one of the Flankers three times. That he found 
Capt, McKay in one of the Flankers, just got up in his 
Shirt, with a small sword and a musket, whom he advised 
to support the Gate with the Highlanders, but he did not 
do it. That the Enemy attacked in four Parties. That the 
Gate was defended a Quarter of an hour only by the two 
Flankers on either side, after which the Enemy Entered, 
sword in Hand, headed by an Officer, whom he, this Depo- 
nent, Shot. That the Fort being soon full of men, about an 
hour before day, all that Could jumped over into the Ditch, 
and escaped by forcing their way thro' the Enemy that Sur- 
rounded the Fort. That he, this Deponent, having at last 
also jumped over, met with Colonel Palmer's two sons near 
the Ditch, with whom and Six Indians he cleared a way 
thro' the Enemy, opening a passage as they fired, and that 
Captain William Palmer, in particular, killed a Spanish 
Indian that was then going to knock down him, this Depo- 
nent. That they waded down the Creek which runs by 



170 

Moosa, about a mile and a half to the River opposite to 
Point Quartell, where they met with many others that 
escaped, amongst which was Captain McKay, and one Mr. 
Scroggs, another officer of tli* 1 General's, both without 
Clothes, the former having a small Sword in his hand, and 
two or three sears in his body, which resembled the pricks 
of Palmetto Royal, and the latter having, as he thinks, a 
din and Pistol, said that he had thrown away his Clothes 
the better to Swim. That about an hour after day break, 
Lieutenant Cadogan, who by chance came down the River, 
took them all in, and landed them upon Point Quartell, 
where the Carolina Regiment was. 

And this Deponent further Saith, That to the best of bis 
belief and knowledge, about fifty whites and Indians of our 
party were killed, and upwards of twenty taken; and that 
he heard the < uncial afterwards, at St. Juan's, read a Packet 
from the Governor of Augustine to that of St. Mark's, which 
had been delivered to him by four of the Creek Indians, 
taken at Moosa and Set at Liberty again by the Governor 
of Augustine to Carry the Said Packet, which said: " That 
" the number of men which attacked the party at Moosa 
" was live hundred and fifty chosen men, of which one 
" hundred and thirty-two (as this Deponent remembers) 
" were killed on the Spot, with the two Principal officers, 
" besides what came back into the Castle wounded." And 
this Deponent also Saith, that those Creeks told him, the 
Spaniards, after their victory at Moosa, cut off the heads 
and private parts of the Slain and carried them into Au- 
gustine in Triumph, and that they were most of them ovcr- 
heated with Liquor, which had been given them before, to 
animate them to the attack, which this Deponent believes 
to be true, for that when he went over from Anastatia with 
the General to bury the Dead, he found just b} r the Fort a 
Rum Keg. with Gun Powder in the bottom. 

That all the Spanish Deserters and Prisoners (except 
those taken at Diego, which were sent aboard the Men-of 
War), were always at liberty in the ('amp, and that as soon 
as the General had given leave to Don Diego to go into 



171 

Augustine, when he was in half a mile of it, under cover of 
the Bushes, immediately the Cannon of the Castle played 
directly on the General's men. and obliged them to retreat. 

THOMAS JONES. 

Sworn before me this 9th of April, 1741. 
Henry Gibbes, J. P. 

No. 33. — Extract of Mr. Gordon's Journal, the thirty-first 
of May, 1740 : 

The General told Colonel Vanderdussen that the two 
Negroes he had taken informed him, That the Spaniards 
had placed their Indians and Negroes in ambuscade at some 
distance from Augustine ; and that their Troops were to 
Sally out upon the first appearance of Our Army, and that 
he was to get his Regiment in readiness to march ; upon 
which Colonel Vanderdussen ordered each Captain to give 
in an exact account of what number of men they had that 
were able to March, and that they should have them under 
Arms at four o'clock. The Return made was Three hun- 
dred and Seventy-Six, which, with the Volunteers and 
Cadets, amounted to about Four hundred men, and at Five 
they marched out of the Camp. 

Xo. 34. — Extract of Lieutenant Colonel Lejeau's Journal, 
of the thirty-first of May, 1740 : 

After passing some Creeks and over some hard Marshes 
in several Places, in a Narrow Path full of Palmetto Roots, 
so Causeyed, by rough marching in the Night about one 
o'clock came over a fine run of water, where the Regiment 
halted in a Line fronting the Enemy ; Out Guards being 
placed, the men lay on their arms all night. From Diego 
to this Place is about Twelve Miles. 

No. 35. — Extract of Lieutenant Colonel Lejeau's Journal, 
of the first of June, 1740 : 

Rested 'till about four in the afternoon, marched from 
Thence, passed over some bad Runs and Pieces of Marsh, 



172 

had some trouble getting over the Gun, and about ten 
o'clock had a great Storm of Thunder, Lightning and Rain, 
and so dark could sec nothing before us. and believe every 
one wet to the Skin, as well as our arms. After some time 
it became Clear again, and at last came to a House built of 
Palmetto, with several out Houses of the same work. Stayed 
about an hour wet as we were, the Moon rising, ordered to 
march again. 

No. 36. — Deposition of Captain William Palmer : 

South Carolina, Com. Berks, ss. 

William Palmer being duly sworn on the Holy Evangel- 
ists of Almighty God, declared : That he was Employed in 
the late Expedition against St. Augustine, by General Ogle- 
thorpe, as Captain of a Small Troop of Rangers (Consisting 
of Ten Carolinians) to make Excursions with his Rangers 
wherever he thought proper, in order to search for Cow pens 
and drive up Cattle and Horses for his use. But not to de- 
stroy any Houses, if the People had quitted them, and that 
the General promised to allow him besides his Pay, forty 
pounds for every Horse, and Thirty pounds for every Mare, 
he should catch. 

That Colonel William Palmer, his Father, attended the 
General in the Said Expedition as a Volunteer, which the 
General expressed a great desire of, as the Colonel had been 
at the head of an Expedition from Carolina, in the year 
1727, against the Spanish Indians, was well acquainted with 
the parts adjacent to St. Augustine, the ways of the Indians, 
and Ranging in the Woods. But that he bore no Commis- 
sion at all under the General. 

That he, this Deponent, was ordered by the General, at 
Diego, to Joyn with his Rangers Captain Mcintosh's inde- 
pendent Company, consisting of about Sixty Highlanders, 
in the General's Pay, a Corporal or Sergeant and twelve 
men of the General's Regiment, and about thirty Indians, 
Creeks and Euchees, making in all, when Numbered, One 
hundred and thirty men, and to march from thence to the 



173 

Negro Fort, called Moosa, within two Miles from St. Angus- 
tine, from whence he was to make excursions. 

That he happened to be by when the General told Colonel 
Palmer (who went with those Forces, and afterwards told 
this Deponent that they were by a Verbal order of the Gen- 
eral, to be advised and directed by him) to alarm the Span- 
iards in Augustine as often as he could : And that he also 
afterwards heard Captain McKay and Captain Mcintosh say 
they had the .same orders in writing. 

That the neck of Land leading to St. Augustine was so 
narrow that the Enemy's Motions could not be observed so 
well anywhere as at or in Sight of Moosa. 

That when they arrived at Moosa, The Foot began to 
Camp within the Fort, the Gate of which having been be- 
fore taken down, and Several Breaches made in the Wall 
by the General, Colonel Palmer disapproved very much 
thereof, Saying that he had much rather pitch anywhere 
without in open Ground, where he could fight his Enemy 
all round about, wherever he could find an advantage, 
which Captain McKay and Captain Mcintosh not regard- 
ing, but building a Palmetto House for themselves, as most 
of the Men did, within the Fort, he himself pitched with 
the Rangers without. That he never heard either of them 
expressing any Uneasiness at being there, only that more 
Provisions were not sent to them. That he doth not know, 
nor believe, That the Colonel ever Stayed one hour at a 
time in the Fort ever after, whilst this Deponent was pres- 
ent. That the Colonel frequently gave the said Captains 
McKay and Mcintosh advice, which they never took. Par- 
ticularly, that they should all rise at four every morning, 
and Stand to their Arms, because the Indians are constantly 
used to make an Attack, just before Break of day. That he 
often went twice in a morning into the Fort, to rouse them 
up; but that it did not seem to be regarded by them. That 
he often fell into a passion with them on that account; 
Telling them that he valued his life no more than they did, 
but that they lay like dogs to have their Throats cut, That 
this Deponent often heard him wish himself away, for that 



174 

he never saw such Men in his Life ; that they did not regard 
his advice, and he had no Commission from the General to 
Shew. 

That this Deponent never knew who had the Chief Com- 
mand. That McKay and Mcintosh Seemed to act alike in 
every thing. But that one Day a Letter coming from Colo- 
nel Vanderdussen, directed to the Commanding officer at 
Moosa, he saw Captain McKay break open the same. • 

That, pursuant to the General's Orders, with his own and 
the Georgia Rangers, Commanded by Captain McKay, he 
made Excursions every day, sometimes for fifteen Miles 
round, returning every night, but one, to Moosa, and drove 
up about thirty Horses. But that McKay himself never 
rode with him, but one day. That he also went out at 
Nights and alarmed the Spaniards in St. Augustine ; the 
Colonel going himself One Night with him. But that the 
Highland Company never moved out all the time. That 
the Indians every day ranged for Horses for themselves, 
and drove up about Seventy Horses. 

That on the fifteenth of June past, about four in the 
Morning, he, this Deponent, got up from the Spot, where 
himself, the Colonel, and the Rangers Slept, about twelve 
yards without the Ditch, being roused by the Colonel who 
went immediately into the Fort to rouse the men there, as 
usual. That he imagines by the Noise he heard the Colonel 
make, that they were most asleep. That a little after lie 
had put on his Boots and Spurs, most of his own men being 
awake, he heard the Words, stand to your arms, within the 
Fort, for there is a Body of men coming ; without hearing 
any more from either of the two advanced Sentinels, which 
were followed immediately by a Volley from both Parties. 
Upon which, as the Colonel had before directed to be clone 
on Such an Occasion, he, with his Brother and one Charles 
Graves, betook themselves to the Ditch, because the High- 
landers' Fire might Else endanger them as much as that of 
the Enemy. That a constant brisk Fire was preserved on 
both sides for some time; That in a very little time after lie 
perceived the Enemy was within the Fort at Club work, 



175 

hacking and Slashing in a terrible manner, till one Thomas 
Jones jumped over the Wall into the Ditch, where this De- 
ponent was, and said the Fort was taken, it was all over, all 
our people were killed, and above two hundred Spaniards 
within, and advised to make their escape immediately. 
Upon which he, with his Brother, and said Graves and 
Jones, made his way through the Enemy's Smoke (by the 
way Shooting an Indian that was going to knock down 
Jones) to a Creek, through which he waded down (with 
some others that he found there, Escaped before him) to the 
River opposite to the Carolina Regiment's Camp on Point 
Quartell. That he there found also Captain Hugh McKay 
and Scroggs, at the River's Side; the former with a small 
Sword in his hand and the Latter, a Pistol; having nothing 
of any kind on, but his Shirt, That Captain McKay had 
on only his Shirt, a pair of Linnen Drawers, and a pair of 
Stockings; That he had a small Scar across two fingers, a 
small prick in his Breech, and the Top of his yard, which 
he shewed, upon this deponent's perceiving a little blood 
through his Drawers, and that he supposes the same was 
occasioned by the prickly palmetto Royal, which lined the 
outside of the Ditch round the Fort, because the said McKay 
told him that he jumped over the wall. That whilst they 
waited by the River's side, having caused one to Swim over 
to Colonel Yanderdussen for a Craft to carry them over, 
Lieutenant Cadogan chanced to come down tile River, who,' 
upon their waving to him, came and took them all into his 
Boat, being 25 men, Whites and Indians, and landed them 
upon Point Quartell. 

And this Deponent further say eth, that when the General 
first inarched towards Augustine, being within one mile 
and a half of it, he halted with the army at a dividing path. 
That thereupon Col. Palmer told the General, he knew the 
way to enter the Town, ami ottered, at the head of two 
hundred Carolina Men. To go in and burn the Town, but 
that the Genera] said il was too hazardous! and that it' was 
so long since he was there he had forgot the Situation of the 
Town. That a Negroe then present (who had deserted to 



176 

him from Augustine to Diego) gave another account which 
must be right, (which Negroe was at large, and stiled a Cap- 
tain by him). That lie knew what he had to do! That it 
was the Custom of Armies, always to shew themselves to 
the Enemy first, and to make a feint. Accordingly, that 
the Army marched away to Moosa, a little behind them on 
one side, that the Indians who assisted in the Expedition 
told him, the said Deponent, that afterwards, when the 
General was upon the Island of Anastatia, they offered him 
to go over the River, and burn the Town ; but that the 
General refused leave, saying, that the Houses would be 
useful to us. 

WILLIAM PALMER. 

Sworn before me this 10th of February, 1741. 
Henry Gibbes, J. P. 

No. 37. — Deposition of William Steads : 

South Carolina, Com. Berks, ss. 

William Steads, being duly sworn on the Holy Evangel- 
ists of Almighty-God, sayeth that he went as a Volunteer 
in the late Expedition against St. Augustine. That he, this 
Deponent, used to ride out with Don Diego, who was at 
liberty, to hunt up Cattle. But that when a fresh Beef was 
killed, to this Deponent's knowledge, the Volunteers could 
get none, till all others were served. 

That the General going out one day from Fort Diego, to 
reconnoitre with, a large Detachment of his own Men, The 
Carolina Volunteers, and some Indians, and coming in 
sight of live Houses, about a quarter of a mile assunder 
from one another, he caused the whole Body to halt, then 
ordered the Volunteers, being then to the best of this De- 
ponent's Rememberanee, nine in Number, of which this 
Deponent was one, to go up and force their way into them, 
which they did, and having found only two Carolina Ne- 
groes in them, they brought and delivered them to the 
General, who kept them for his own use, refusing to allow 



177 

any thing for the Salvage, but as he heard blamed their 
rash Conduct. That when the General marched with the 
whole Army to Augustine, and came to a dividing path 
within two miles of it, where they halted, he heard Colonel 
Palmer offer him, with a quarter part ol the men, to enter 
the Town and set it on fire, which the General refused; 
and that he heard several warm words also pass between 
them, because the General regarded more what a Spanish 
Negroe deserter, named Capt. Jack, told him (who served as 
a guide) than what he did. Upon which the Army marched 
to Fort Moosa, about a mile and a half from Augustine. 

That whilst at Moosa, a violent shower of rain falling, 
and some of the Volunteers, together with some officers of 
the Carolina Reginent, having gone into the House in that 
Fort, the General having, in this Deponent's hearing, repri- 
manded the Sentinel at the Door, saying he deserved a 
thousand Lashes for letting them in, caused them all to turn 
out again, in that weather. 

That after the Army returned to Diego, the Volunteers, 
disgusted by the usage before mentioned, and because they 
found themselves in General slighted, went away from 
thence, with a Resolution to return home. 

That about the 8th of June past, the General ordered a 
party to march back again to Moosa, consisting of about 
fifty or sixty Highlanders, Commanded by Capt. Mcintosh, 
12 Soldiers and a Sergeant, 23 Rangers of Carolina and 
Georgia, commanded by Capt. Palmer, with Adjutant 
McKay and about thirty-five Indians, in all 132 men. That 
he, this Deponent, went with them as one of the Rangers. 
That Col. Palmer also went with them. That when they 
came to Moosa, the tenth, all but the Rangers entered and 
camped within. That Col. Palmer advised them to the 
contrary, telling them that (Remainder lost.) 



178 
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 'l 
( Iffice Secretary of State. J 

I, .las. N. Lipscomb, Secretary of State, do hereby certify 
that the foregoing is a true Copy of the Appendix to the 

Report of the Expedition to St. Augustine, as recorded in 
this office, in Volume 7, Council Journal, Upper House, 
Pages 485 to 518 inclusive. 

Witness my hand and the Great Seal of the State at Co- 
lumbia, South Carolina, this the 23d day of July, A. I). 
1884, and in the one hundred and ninth year of American 
Independence. 

[seal.] JAS. N. LIPSCOMB, 

Secretary of State. 

Letter from the Office of the Secretary of State. 

On the inside of the cover of the Volume in which the 
Report and the Appendix of which the foregoing is a true 
copy, I find the following 

. ■. ■ "CHASM." 

" No proceedings of the Upper House from 2d July, 1741, 
" to 28th October, 1741. (See pages 420 and 519.) A chasm 
" in the Deposition of Wm. Stead, p. 518. 

"No proceedings of Upper House from January 18th, 
" 1742, to May 18th, 1742. (See page 533 of this and page 1 
"of the succeeding Volume." 

This accounts for the remainder of the Appendix, which 
does not appear upon the Records of this Department. A 
careful examination of the preceding and succeeding Vol- 
umes of that period has developed that fact. 
Very respectfully, 

(Signed) A. C. JONES, C. C, 

Secretary of State. 



-JaW 



